More than 100 teenagers from the west and northwest came together in Castlebar over the weekend for an event that incorporated health workshops, a road safety presentation, cooking, and a disco.
The young people assembled at the Welcome Inn Hotel on Saturday October 2 for a health conference organised by the No Name Club, a national youth organisation that provides teenagers with fun activities and events throughout the country.
Clubs from Mayo, Galway, Donegal, and Roscommon assembled for the conference that focused on key issues affecting teenagers’ health.
Workshops on alcohol awareness, drug awareness, mental health, and offensive behaviour were also facilitated by representatives of An Garda Síochána, the HSE, and the Western Drugs Taskforce.
Noel Brett, chief executive oofficer of the Road Safety Authority, spoke at the event to the young people about how crucial an issue road safety is, and, together with the No Name Club, the authority has launched a competition asking young people to design an item of high visibility clothing, a road safety poster, and greeting cards with a road safety theme. Prizes worth €500 are on offer.
“The Road Safety Authority is delighted to team up with the No Name Club to deliver this exciting initiative,” Mr Brett said. “In 2009, 40 per cent of the deaths on Irish roads were people aged under 25. It is crucial we engage with young people on an issue that sees so many young lives being wasted needlessly. We’re delighted to have formed this partnership with the No Name Club and believe it will highlight the issue in a fun and imaginative way among hundreds of teenagers around the country.”
The last session of the day brought all the delegates together for a live cookery demonstration in healthy eating, which was provided by chef Jamal Kaide of the Welcome Inn Hotel.
Describing the event as a “great success”, No Name Club CEO Con Nolan said he really believed it focused the minds of the teenagers on issues that are facing them as they go about their daily lives. “It allowed State agencies to talk with the teens and hear views, opinions, and responses in an informal setting. We’ve received a very positive response from the teenagers and their adult committee leaders who attended,” he said.
