Voices of a new generation heard at 2025 GAA Youth Forum

On Nov 1^st over 120 young people aged between 12 and 21 from the GAA, Camogie, LGFA, Rounders and Handball gathered in Croke Park for the GAA Youth Forum to have their voice heard on the forum theme of 'Your Voice; Your Sport; Your Future'.

The day opened with an inspiring address by GAA Youth Committee member Kate O’Connell encouraging those in attendance to get fully involved and be confident in speaking up. This was followed by the President’s Panel comprising of Micheal Naughton (Iar-Uachtaran LGFA), Iain Cheyne (Uachtaran GAA Rounders), Conor McDonnell (Uachtaran GAA Handball) and Brian Molloy (Uachtaran Camogie Association). This panel discussion, moderated by Youth Committee member Tara O Mahoney, reinforced the focus of the day, for young people to voice their opinions on issues of concern to them.

For the remainder of the morning session, the young people were given the opportunity to live out the theme of the day through a series of interactive workshops in the areas of (a) decision making structures (b) resilience (c) empathy and (d) developing volunteer opportunities.

The young people attended two workshops depending on their own interests and were supported by subject matter experts from across the Gaelic games family. A core element of these workshops was the discussion and development of recommendations from the young people to be brought forward to the afternoon’s GAA Youth Congress.

The afternoon session began with a post-lunch, slump busting address by Uachtaran CLG Jarlath Burns to all attendees thanking them for their contribution so far and encouraging them to keep going. After this, Jonathon Sullivan and fellow Youth Committee member, Rose Donohoe, continued with the second panel of the day, the Captain’s Chat. Andrea Toye (Cork Minor LGFA), Katie Manning (Galway U23 Camogie) and Joey Clarke (Tyrone U20 Football) shared their experiences of captaining their respective counties to All Ireland success in 2025.

After a summary of the morning’s workshops from GAA Youth Committee members Eoin Moylan, Lorcan Bradley, Ruaidhri Bradley and Alannah O Neill, the GAA Youth Congress began in earnest. The congress objectives were two-fold (a) giving the young people a greater understanding of the Congress process and (b) voting on topics to be used in the GAA Youth Committee report to GAA Congress 2026. The Youth Congress was a great success with lively debate and passionate opinions on the topics delivered eloquently by those who chose to speak.

The GAA Youth Forum 2025 concluded with a call-to-action address from GAA Youth Committee member Yuming Lian encouraging those who attended to return to their Clubs, schools and communities with their learnings and ideas.

Going forward, the GAA Youth Committee will prepare and deliver a report to GAA Congress in 2026 outlining the recommendations voted on at the Youth Congress and supported by the feedback and opinions of the young people gathered throughout the day at the GAA Youth Forum.

Overall, the main feedback of the day from the young people in attendance was, try to connect with the young people in your Club. They might just have the idea your Club is looking for!