Local young people in Strabane have started their new year with the Dermot Earley Youth Leadership Initiative, a highly anticipated development programme being rolled out across Ireland by Foróige, NUI Galway and Cumann Lúthchleas Gael.

Hosted by Sigersons GAA, Coaching Officer Ciaran McLaughlin praised participants including members of Sigersons, Owen Roes and Urney GAA clubs for a successful start to the course despite the current restrictions.

“The young people were fantastic. They were so enthusiastic. We are all are very encouraged about the successful delivery of the initiative in Strabane.”

“The COVID-19 restrictions unfortunately meant we had to move everything online, but Foróige provided us with all the training and tools that we needed”.

The aspiring students—who come from schools and colleges in Strabane (North West Regional College, Strabane Academy, Holy Cross College), Omagh (Omagh CBS, Loreto Grammar School), Derry (Thornhill College, St Columb’s College), and Dungiven (Gaelcholáiste Dhoire) logged on last Friday night for their first module, ‘Leadership for Life’, which allowed them to set out their hopes for society and explore key concepts of leadership.

The initiative was designed in honour of the late Dermot Earley Snr, a former Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces and Senior Military Advisor at the UN Headquarters. The former Roscommon football star  also won two GAA All-Star awards.

Under current guidelines, modules are expected to run online for the foreseeable future but participants will nevertheless proceed with a community project on climate change in conjunction with the GAA Green Clubs Programme.

On completion of all modules, participants will be awarded a Foundation Certificate in Youth Leadership and Community Action from NUI Galway, who hold the UNESCO Chair in Children, Youth and Civic Engagement.