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What an exciting opportunity for Irish Girl Guides! We were delighted to be invited to the opening ceremony of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union. It was a really special day, not only because we got to see the ceremony and meet some amazing people, but also because it gave us the chance to represent Irish Girl Guides (IGG) at such an important event.
One of our members was there on the day and has shared what it was like to be part of the celebrations, from hearing speeches and international leaders to meeting other young people! Nicole Moore, Senior Branch member and Chair of the Governance Committee share with us her experience:
Irish Girl Guides got invited to the opening ceremony of the EU Presidency!
But before I tell you all the cool stuff that happened, what is the EU Presidency and why is it so cool?
Well, EU member states take turns holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for six months. The last time Ireland held this role was 13 years ago! Ireland’s role is to chair most meetings of the Council, set its work programme and agendas, and act as the representative of the Council. It’s a huge responsibility and an opportunity for Ireland to help shape important decisions across Europe.
Irish Girl Guides were invited to attend the ceremony. Our Chief Commissioner, Katie from our Youth Advisory Panel, and myself had front row seats to the whole event. Walking into the venue and seeing leaders from across Europe gathered together was a pretty surreal moment!
We got to hear speeches from our political leaders and international leaders, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who gave a powerful and reflective speech about unity and peace.
We also heard from António Costa, President of the European Council, who highlighted the importance of the Presidency and the strength of democracy and unity.
We saw incredible dancing and music… the atmosphere throughout the ceremony was amazing… not to mention some features of IGG on RTÉ One which you can check out!
After the official ceremony we met other young people, including delegates representing the UN, the EU and Seanad na nÓg. We were introduced to so many people I almost can’t keep count! We also met Norma Foley, the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality.
Overall, it was an incredible day and an amazing opportunity to represent Irish Girl Guides on such an important occasion. It reminded us that having young people involved at every level of decision-making is so important. Youth voices help shape better policies and build a society that reflects people from all backgrounds and experiences. We left feeling inspired, proud to represent IGG, and excited to see what opportunities the future holds for young people.
Nicole Moore
Why it matters to young people
Being invited to an event like this was a brilliant experience.
Getting the chance to meet leaders, hear different perspectives and connect with other young people showed us that young people really can have a place in these important conversations.
We are very proud that Irish Girl Guides had the opportunity to be part of the opening of Ireland’s EU Presidency.
Hopefully it will encourage even more young people to get involved, share their ideas and have their voices heard.