Comhairle na nÓg

Comhairle na nÓg is a children and youth council. The council gives young people the opportunity to have their say on the services, policies and issues that affect them in their local area and nationally. 

There are 31 such councils throughout the country, in every city and county in Ireland. 

Comhairle na nÓg was set up under the National Children’s Strategy, 2000. The local authority is responsible for the Comhairle na nÓg and it is funded by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. 

Longford Comhairle na nÓg

Longford Comhairle na nÓg is one such children and youth council under the responsibility of Longford County Council. 

At the Youth Conference Annual General Meeting (AGM), Comhairle members are elected. These members come from the nine County Longford post-primary schools, as well as local youth groups, including Lus Na Gréine Family Resource Centre in Granard, County Longford Youth Service and Irish Girl Guides. See more about this AGM with our latest Annual General Meeting Report 2023.

Throughout the year, Longford Comhairle members work on issues that affect them. 

Locally, members are represented on the Longford Westmeath Educational Training Board, among other platforms. Longford Comhairle also shares its voice nationally, sitting on consultative forums, such as Senad na nÓg, National Youth Assembly of Ireland, Rural Youth Assembly, Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment and Climate Action and EU Just Transition. Every two years, members of Comhairle also have the opportunity to represent their county at Dáil na nÓg, the national youth parliament.

Latest Comhairle News 

Catch up on our latest news by following the Longford Comhairle na nÓg Facebook page. You can also see below for some highlights:

#MindYour youth event

Longford Comhairle na nÓg worked with Longford Westmeath Child and Young Persons Services Committee, local youth groups and Westmeath Comhairle to host a #MindYour youth event on Friday, 1 December in the Longford Arms Hotel. This event provided an opportunity for the young people of Longford and Westmeath to share their projects and initiatives with service providers while also providing an opportunity for service providers to meet with and listen to young people in the region.

Youth Conference Annual General Meeting

Longford County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Colm Murray opened the Longford Comhairle na nOg Youth Conference (AGM) on 9 November in the Longford Arms Hotel.  The Cathaoirleach thanked Comhairle members for ensuring the voice of young people from County Longford is heard on local and national committees. Special reference was made to participation in the National Rural Youth Assembly, on issues affecting young people in rural Ireland, the Youth Information Consultation and the Child Summit Youth Advisory Groups. 

The conference was a huge success with discussions on topics such as mental health, transport, online safety, poverty and the housing crisis. Young people also participated in digital skills workshops and circus skills workshops including many inclusive games and activities throughout the day.

Secured funding for CultureCon intercultural event

Longford Comhairle secured funding under the Longford County Council Intercultural Fund to host a CultureCon intercultural event in June 2023. The event showcased different cultures and participants made a cultural art work to be displayed in the Longford Youth Services offices. Attendees could also sign up for many Comhairle activities. 

Visit to Leinster House

Mid-2023, Comhairle members visited Leinster House. This was kindly facilitated by Senator Micheàl Carrigy.

Contact Us

Community and Enterprise Development Officer Laura McPhillips
Longford Comhairle na nÓg
Community Development
Longford County Council
Great Water Street 
Longford

P: (043) 334 33 90
E: lmcphillip@longfordcoco.ie