Above: Members of our East Limerick Youth Project were delighted to take part in Kupala Night celebrations with the Ukrainian community. Kupala Night coincides with the summer solstice and is a major celebration in Slave culture.
Welcome to
Infolink, Limerick Youth Service’s newsletter/e-zine that promotes the positive contribution of young people to our communities and keeps you up to date with the latest news from one of Ireland’s leading youth organisations.
Inside this week’s edition,
Infolink has details of Limerick Pride, summer camps for the Ukrainian Community, Monday Fundays in Garryowen, France says merci to Garryowen teens and more!
Below: Celebrating Kupala Night in Castleconnell with the Ukrainian Community
French State to Thank Garryowen Teens
The outstanding contribution of young people with the Garryowen Youth Committee will be formally acknowledged by the French Republic at a ceremony this Monday, evening July 4
th at the Patrick Sarsfield statute, Cathedral Place, Limerick at 6pm.
Dr. Loïc Guyon, the Honorary Consul of France, will thank the Garryowen Youth Committee for their work that included the planting and maintaining of ‘planters’ at the Patrick Sarsfield statute.
‘As Patrick Sarsfield and the Wild Geese have a special place in the heart of the French nation, it’s fitting that Dr. Guyon should recognise the work of the young people in maintaining this historical site,’ said Priscilla Sheehan, Limerick Youth Service.
‘The young people are really looking forward to the event and meeting the Honour Consul, which is a great honour,’ said Priscilla, LYS’ Youth Diversion Project.
Established in late 2021, the Garryowen Youth Committee is a partnership with the Irishtown hub of LYS Youth Diversion Project and Garryowen Community Development Project.
Limerick’s Youth Celebrate Pride 2022
A celebration of the LGBTQI+ youth community, a drop-in information afternoon, sexual health workshop and the annual Pride Youth Party, are all part of a busy week of events as Limerick Youth Service and GOSHH celebrates Pride 2022.
Organised by members of the LGBTQI+ Youth Group, the week promises to be a colourful affair with music, games, art and plenty of colour!
‘We are all looking forward to what promises to be a very enjoyable and action-packed week,’ said Cathy Barry, LYS.
‘The young people have been very busy organising the week and, after the challenges of the past two years, are looking forward to celebrating in person,’ said youth worker Cathy.
Above: The Garda Pride Car at the Northside Youth Space during Pride 2021
While the Covid-19 pandemic and the various restrictions effected the general population, it was quite challenging for LGBTQI+ young people, particularly those who had not ‘come out.’
‘There were some LGBTQI+ young people, who had to hide their true selves or couldn’t meet up with friends (due to the restrictions) and this certainly effected their mental health,’ said Cathy ‘so it’s great that they can get together for Pride.’
Part of the wider Limerick Pride Festival, the Pride youth events are open to all young people regardless of gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation with full details available below:
Pride Youth Festival 2022
Drop In Youth Café
- Teenagers are invited to find out more about the opportunities for LGBTQI+ at Limerick Youth Service, from youth clubs and groups to educational courses and mental health supports
- Venue: Lava Javas Youth Café, 5 Lr. Glentworth St, Limerick
- Tuesday, July 5th (2-4pm)
Sexual Health Workshop for Young People
- Delivered by GOSSH, this workshop will include a discussion on positive sexual health, contraception including a condom demonstration and information of sexually transmitted disease s.
- Venue: Limerick Youth Service, 5 Lr. Glentworth St, Limerick
- Thursday, July 7th (2-4pm)
- Register via Eventbrite
Pride Youth Party
- Celebrate this year’s Pride with colour, music, art and lots more!
- Venue, Lava Javas Youth Café, 5 Lr. Glentworth St, Limerick
- Friday, July 8th (2-6pm)
- Ages: 14-19yrs
Pride Pre-Parade Party
- Prepare for this year’s Pride Parade as we make banners, bunting, facepainting and more!
- Venue: Lava Javas Youth Café, 5 Lr. Glentworth St, Limerick
- Saturday, July 9th (11am-3pm)
- Ages: 14-19yrs)
For information on the Pride youth events please contact Cathy at
cathy.barry@limerickyouthservice or call/text 087-3508572.
Above: Celebrating Pride at Limerick Youth Service with Comhairle na nÓgYouth Information
LGBT Alphabet
As Limerick Youth Service celebrates Pride Month, this week’s Youth Information segment is a breakdown of the terms used by the LGBT+ community.
LGTBIQQIA+… wow! That is a lot of letters. We hear these terms every day, but what do they all mean and can I use them? As part of our Pride Month series, this week’s
Infolink explains some of terms used.
- L Lesbian: a woman who is attracted to another woman.
- G Gay: a man who is attracted to another man. It is also a term that is broadly used for people who are homosexual.
- B Bisexual: a person who is attracted to both men and women.
- T Transgender: a person whose identify as a gender that is different from that they were born with.
- Q Queer- an umbrella term that is used within the LGBT+ community. However, the use of the word is contentious as its meaning can change depending on the context.
- Q Questioning: a term used for people who are exploring or questioning their sexuality or gender.
- I Intersex: a general term used for a variety of situations in which a person is born with reproductive or sexual anatomy that does not fit make or female.
- A Allies: This term is for ‘straight people’ who support people who are gay, transgender, etc
- A: Asexual: a person who is not sexually attracted to people of any gender.
- + The plus sign: as gender and sexual identity changes, the + sign is used to include ‘all the rest.’ It is also used as a form of shorthand in writing e.g., LGTB+
The above terms can be quite confusing for some- and we have probably left some out! If you would like more information on the above or LGBT+ issues, please visit
www.goshh.ie or chat with a Youth Information Officer by clicking
HERE
A race to the top at the UL Arena with King's Island Youth ProjectLava Javas at The Factory
The Lava Javas Youth Committee will host a special Family Fun Day at The Factory Southside Youth Space on Wednesday, July 6
th from 11am-3pm.
The Family Fun Day will see young people and children from across Limerick take part in a morning of fun and games at the famous southside youth space.
‘After the challenges of the past few years, the Youth Committee were keen to do something positive for children and young people, particularly those who are from disadvantaged communities,’ said Shelly Goggin, Limerick Youth Service.
‘The Youth Committee have been hard at work organising the Family Fun Day and are looking forward to an exciting day at The Factory,’ said Shelly, youth worker, Lava Javas Youth Project.
For more information, please contact Shelly at
shelly.goggin@limerickyouthservice.org
Monday Fundays in Garryowen
Throughout July Mondays will become ‘fundays’ in Garryowen, as Limerick Youth Service and the Garryowen Community Development Project, host a series of action-packed fun days at the Geraldine’s Green, Garryowen (2-5pm).
Organised by young people with LYS’ Garryowen Youth Together Project and St. John’s Youth Club, the ‘Monday Fundays’ is open to children and young people who can take part in a variety of sports and games.
The action starts this Monday, July 4
th at the Geraldine’s Green with more information available by contacting Kate at
kate.slattery@limerickyouthservice.org
Above: A summer fitness programme for the Rathkeale boys
український літній табір
Ukrainian Summer Camp
Limerick Youth Service and Foróige will host two summer camps for young people with the Ukrainian Community in mid-July.
The summer camps will give teenagers from the Ukrainian Community an opportunity to take part in a number of activities such as kayaking, dance workshops, football and a clown workshop.
The summer camps will take place at several venues with the dates and age range as follows:
- Tuesday to Friday, 14th - 22nd July: 14-18yrs
- Tuesday to Friday, 26th – 29th July: 10-14yrs
Summertime in Rathkeale
The summertime fun continued at Rathkeale Youth Space this past week with several groups enjoying a trip to Ballyhass Lakes while others had a splash in Lough Derg.
The Rathkeale 2nd Years and the RK Youth Café members ventured to the excellent Ballyhass Lakes Activity Centre, Co. Cork and ,despite the temperamental Irish summer, had great fun.
‘There were straight into the water-there was no way Mother Nature’s mood swings would stop them!’ laughed Barbara Reynolds, Limerick Youth Service.
Away from the aqua based fun, the teenagers practiced their archery skills, with one or two even hitting the bullseye!
Above: The RK Youth Cafe at Ballyhass Lakes
Meanwhile, the Rathkeale 1
st Year Group landed on the shores of Lough Derg as they took the water as the West Coast Aqua Centre, Kilaloe.
‘It’s been a great summer so far with the feedback from the young people overwhelming positive,’ said Barbara, LYS Rathkeale-Askeaton Youth Project.
‘It’s been great to see them out and about enjoying themselves,’ said Barbara adding with a smile ‘with two months of summer left, we’ve plenty more surprises in store!
To view photos of the summer action, please click HERE (Via Facebook)
Above: What goes up.... splash! The Rathkeale 1st Years having fun at Killaloe
Coming Next Week
In the next edition, Infolink will have more details of the summer programmes including an exciting week at the Community Training Centre, a trip to the cells with Rathkeale-Askeaton Youth Project while Youth Work Gan Teorainn rolled into town!
