Aoife makes a little history at Dáil na nÓg
Related Articles
POBALSCOIL Chorca Dhuibhne transition year student Aoife Ní Chonchúir made a little local history when she chaired last Friday's annual Dáil na nÓg gathering in the Croke Park Conference Centre in Dublin.
Dáil na nÓg is a body which helps teenagers to have a voice in youth issues and politics and Aoife was the first Kerry student to chair the conference since the organisation was established nine years ago.
Each county has a comhairle and some 200 delegates, from all over the country, attended Friday's conference.
"The members of the comhairles had to fill out a form, in advance of the conference, to determine who would chair Dáil na nÓg this year. On my form I said that the chairperson should be respectful to others, be able to speak well and with confidence in public and display leadership qualities. Then word came that I had been selected to chair the conference. I was completely shocked! I never expected it and I was really excited about the whole thing," she told The Kerryman this week.
Aoife and fellow PCD student delegate Róisín Ní Chearbhaill headed for Dublin on Friday where Aoife was introduced to Minister for Children Barry Andrews.
"I was a bit nervous going in to the conference. The minister was very nice. He said I was the first Kerry person to be chosen as chair but not the first Kerry person to feature in Croke Park! Then I did an interview over the phone with Radio Kerry and one with Gerry Ryan on RTÉ," Aoife said.
"The most important youth issue for me is the whole area of depression and suicide. The conference broke up into workshops and I was part of the one dealing with those issues. I feel there isn't enough support for people who suffer from depression. Up to 10 per cent of the population suffers from depression. One recommendation from the conference was that there should be a trained councillor in every secondary school to meet the needs of students and to inform them about signs of depression and how to deal with it," she said.
As chairperson, Aoife introduced the minister and the guest speakers and proposed the various motions to be voted on.
"I was on a high after the day! I was exhausted and really happy but also a bit sad that it was over. I'd like to thank Marita Evans, a trainee teacher, who encouraged me to get involved in this and I'd want to thank Ann Murphy from Cahersiveen who was my comhairle leader," she said.
