Following on from its successful roll-out in 2015-16, the GAA, Foróige, and NUIG are delighted to announce that the innovative Dermot Earley Youth Leadership Initiative has commenced for the second time in Monaghan GAA and the application opportunities opened to young GAA members aged 15-18 years were eagerly taken up.

Fully supported by the family of the late Dermot Earley Senior, since 2014 the programme has grown its reach from 3 counties to 11 counties (Kildare, Dublin, Offaly, Roscommon, Galway, Tipperary, Cork, Donegal, Monaghan, Antrim and Mayo) giving over 400 young people from 200 clubs the opportunity to enhance their leadership skills and aid them to reach their full potential

The initiative is a yearlong programme running over 3 modules from September 2017 to June 2018. It involves 30 hours of workshops designed to develop the leadership skills that Dermot epitomised on and off the field. Key skills include decision making, communication, leadership, team building, critical thinking and presentation skills. In module 3 participants put their enhanced skills into action through a club or community based action project.

Module 1 has already been completed by the group of young GAA people in Monaghan led by the two tutors; Barbara Ward and Andrew Kierans and supported by Foroige and the Monaghan GAA Health and Wellbeing Committee. Module 2 will take place in the Spring of 2018.

Those participants who complete all 3 modules will have the opportunity to graduate from NUIG with a Foundation Certificate in Youth Leadership and Community Action. The workshops are facilitated by a troupe of excellently trained tutors who have already received a Diploma in Training and Education for their efforts and commitment.

For more information on the Dermot Earley Youth Leadership initiative please visit www.gaa.ie/community