Young and Irish Voices
Musings about big events we’ve attended.
Cara and Roisin interviewed Press Ombudsman Peter Feeney at the Media Literacy Ireland Autumn Conference. Peter told us about his role and responsibilities as Ombudsman. He also shared his thoughts on importance of events like this conference.
Cara and Roisin
Youth Media Team
Aoibheann, Emma, Denis and Roisin interviewed John Hartnett the founder and president of the Irish Technology Leadership Group (ITGL) at the ITGL Young Innovators event in Shannon Airport. John told us about why he founded ITGL and the work that he does. He also spoke about how important events like today are, as now young people don’t have to wait until their 20s or 30s to be an entrepreneur. John’s advice to us as young people was to follow our passions and to think outside the box when looking for solutions to problems.
Aoibheann, Emma, Denis and Roisin
Youth Media Team
Aoibheann, Emma, Denis and Roisin interviewed the two male Dragons, Gavin Duffy and Barry O’Sullivan from Dragons Den at the ITLG Young Innovators event. Gavin and Barry told us about their background and what it’s like being a dragon. Gavin and Barry also spoke about how learning about businesses and entrepreneurship from a young age can be hugely beneficial. They were surprised we asked about the gender balance in the Den because for them it’s all about good ideas and competitiveness.
Aoibheann, Emma, Denis and Roisin
Youth Media Team
Emma, Aoibheann, Denis and Roisin interviewed the three female dragons, Eleanor McEvoy, Chanelle McCoy and Alison Cowzer from Dragons Den at the ITLG Young Innovators event. The ladies told us about their background and how it feels to be called a dragon. All of them were very passionate about young people in business and how events like today are so important for them to learn more and get inspired from the generation of the future. They also felt that gender balance is key and that they were looking forward to a future where ‘its the norm’ for women to be behind successful businesses.
Emma, Aoibheann, Denis and Roisin
Youth Media Team
Professor Vincent Cunnane, President of LIT and Dr. Liam Brown, Vice President for Research Enterprise and Development for LIT, explained why the Limerick Institute of Technology enthusiastically supports young innovators. Liam and Vincent spoke about their roles in LIT and why young people continue to drive the success of entrepreneurship in Ireland.
Roisin and Denis
Youth Media Team
Each of the panel members spoke a little about themselves and the projects they were involved in before sharing their thoughts with us on the importance of connections in shaping our future. Finally they spoke about how involvement in Erasmus+ projects can help to broaden the horizons of young people like ourselves.
Amy, Anna and Cara
Youth Media Team
To find out more about
– the Erasmus journey of students in John’s school check out GTI EU Placement
– the ‘No Hate Speech’ movement check out No Hate Speech Movement in Ireland
– Smashing Times check out Smashing Times
Cara, Anna and Amy interviewed Social Innovator and Campaigner Ruairi McKiernan at the Léargas forum. Ruairi delivered a very thoguth provoking keynote address and we used our interview to get him to recap on some of the ideas he spoke about. Ruairi shared some insights into life in a direct provision centre as well as some reasons why we need to stand in solidarity with those who are marginalised in our society. He spoke about the need to find work with purpose and the need to re-energise ourselves in order to be able to continue standing in solidarity with others. Ruairi spoke about the very important work of youth organisations and how they can help so many young people. Finally he shared about the imprtance of Erasmus+ projects like ‘Building Walls, Breaking Walls’.
Cara, Anna and Amy
Youth Media Team
Anna, Cara and Amy interviewed Jim Mullin, Executive Director of Léargas. In the interview Jim shared his thoughts on the theme and the values underpinning today’s event “Looking Forward: The Future of Europe”. He also shared some insight into some of the Erasmus+ projects which have been supported by Léargas over the past year. Jim spoke about the European Solidarity Corps, an initiative being launched today. Finally, he shared his plans for the drum which was presented to him by Nigerian Carnival Ireland at the opening performance this morning. It sounds like the Léargas staff meetings will be a little bit different from now on … 🙂
Anna, Cara and Amy
Youth Media Team
If you missed Feilte 2018 and would like to listen to a quick compilation of the interviews created by the Youth Media Team, just fire up your podcatcher and download the YMT audio file. Or click and play the clip directly on the YMT.fm website.
The teens and adults of the Youth Media Team are grateful for the kind courtesy continuously extended by the Teaching Council of Ireland. And deeply appreciate the sincerity afforded by President Michael D. Higgins and Sabina Higgins. We all learn through these shared moments.
The biggest event of 2018 has to be meeting President Michael D. Higgins and his wife Sabina in the lobby of Mary Immaculate College during Feilte 2018. It was truly a group event that involved two main interviewers, three of the team taking photos, and two others with a back-up recorder for the special occasion.
We made a short clip that captured the moment from start to finish and hope you enjoy listening to it.
Recorded by Loran and Roisin, and Amy from the Youth Media Team.