Dermot Earley Youth Leadership Initiative participants pictured at Croke Park.
Over 200 people gathered in Croke Park on Saturday, June 10th, 2023, to celebrate the completion of the Dermot Earley Youth Leadership Initiative within their clubs. The initiative, a tribute to Dermot Earley Snr’s sporting and professional achievements and his commitment to community service, empowers young people to enhance their leadership capabilities, reach their full potential, and have a positive impact on the world around them.
The following clubs were represented on the day.
Clubs
Castleknock Hurling & Football Club - Dublin
Clontarf GAA - Dublin
Cuala GAA - Dublin
Milltown GAA - Kildare
Eire Og Greystones - Wicklow
Man O War - Dublin
Celbridge GAA - Kildare
Newbridge Sarsfields GAA - Kildare
Round Tower GAA Clondalkin - Dublin
Gaeil Colmcilles - Meath
St Eunan’s - Donegal
Bandon GAA - Cork
The Neale GAA - Mayo
Red Hughes GAA - Donegal
Kilmacud Crokes GAA - Dublin
Pictured is a discussion panel at an event in Croke Park last June to celebrate the completion of the Dermot Earley Youth Leadership Initiative by members of 15 GAA clubs.
The Dermot Earley Youth Leadership Initiative, delivered in partnership with Foróige and The University of Galway, seeks to empower GAA members aged 15 to 18 years-old to make a positive difference in their club, county, and communities through values-based leadership. During the programme the young GAA members gain aptitudes in essential leadership skills in a safe and supportive environment. Module one focuses on the individual and their leadership skills, building their self-awareness, community skills, values, and communication skills. Module two focuses on their ability to lead as part of a team enabling them to cultivate their skills further. Module three focuses on their individual leadership aspirations and offers the participants the opportunity to lead their own project within their community from conception to completion.
The young people representing 15 clubs received a certificate from special guest and Meath Ladies Footballer Vikki Wall to mark their completion of modules one and two of the programme.
The Earley family were represented on the day by Dermot’s daughters, Paula and Anne-Marie along with their children and the late Dermot Earley’s grandchildren. Anne Marie Early said “coming up to Croke Park for the Dermot Earley Youth Leadership initiative recognition event is always a great occasion. These days are really special, and it is important that the young people are appreciated and they get an opportunity to come to Croke Park and it is also important for us as a family that we get to meet the young participants their tutors and their families.”
The GAA, Foróige and the University of Galway are aiming to expand and grow the initiative beyond the current registered clubs, and we are encouraging individuals interested in becoming programme facilitators to register for training which will enable them to run the programme within their clubs.
The upcoming training dates are below:
Evening Options
Monday 11th Sept, Wednesday 13th Sept and Monday 18th Sept all at 6.30pm to 9.30pm
Weekend Options:
Friday 6th October at 6.30pm to 9.30pm and Saturday 7th October 10am to 4pm
Friday 3rd November at 6.30pm to 9.30pm and Saturday 4th November 10am to 4pm
Anyone interested in being trained as a facilitator can register using the Dermot Earley Youth Leadership Initiative 2023 registration form HERE.
For further information contact National Community & Health Coordinator, Stephen Quinn, Stephen.Quinn@gaa.ie