On Wednesday 16th October, we were thrilled to welcome to LYCS Neale Richmond TD, Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, with special responsibility for International Development and Diaspora. The visit offered a fantastic opportunity for the Minister to see first-hand the positive impact of our Global Citizenship Education and social inclusion work. Also in addition were Niall Tierney and Liam Caffrey from Irish Aid, the funders of our GCE programme, and Ruairí McKiernan, CEO of IDEA (Irish Development Education Association).
From the moment guests arrived there was a real sense of excitement and pride in the air. The morning began with a warm welcome from Sarah Kelleher (CEO) and Bernie Walsh (Board Member), who set the tone for an engaging discussion.
Exploring the Power of Education and Community, both local and global
Sarah Kelleher began by sharing the history of LYCS and its long-standing commitment to using education, and more specifically Global Citizenship Education, as a powerful tool for development of critical thinking and empowerment. She introduced the Emotional Scale – a visual model we use to understand human emotions and how they influence behaviour and decision-making.
This scale illustrates how emotions range from negative feelings like fear and jealousy at the base, progressing upward to positive states such as joy and empowerment at the top. LYCS’s work aims to help individuals and communities move upwards on this scale by building confidence, resilience, and connection through education and support.
This approach emphasises the importance of prevention work – supporting individuals to recognize and manage their emotions in healthy ways before social issues arise or worsen.
Community Impact and Success Stories
The discussion continued with insights from Bernie Walsh, Ellen Corby (Global Citizenship Education Coordinator), and Martin McConigley (Deputy CEO). They highlighted how LYCS addresses challenges such as racism, poverty and anti-social behaviour through focused education and community engagement.
Bernie Walsh shared compelling data and success stories, demonstrating how LYCS’s sustained efforts and collaborative partnerships have created a tangible local impact. Ellen Corby celebrated the achievements of our Gaisce GCE students, explaining that Gaisce – The President’s Award is a national programme in Ireland that encourages young people to set and achieve personal challenges in areas such as community involvement, personal skill development, physical recreation, and an adventure journey. Our GCE Gaisce group takes part in a 26-week GCE programme as the Community Involvement portion of their award, exploring themes of global social justice and building their critical thinking toolkit. Many LYCS students have overcome obstacles to reach these significant milestones.
Martin McConigley spoke about the shared vision and collective commitment that drives LYCS forward. Throughout the discussion, Minister Richmond engaged with thoughtful questions, showing genuine interest in our organisation’s innovative approaches.
Real People, Real Stories
One of the highlights was the Minister’s meeting with Ali, an LYCS student, and our Adult Ed Drama tutor, Deirdre Lonergan. Ali shared his inspiring journey from arriving in Ireland with limited English to confidently pursuing a degree in Business Administration — a testament to LYCS’s supportive environment. He spoke about having the opportunity in his GCE sessions to explore issues of environmental concerns and inequality with his classmates.
Meanwhile, Deirdre Lonergan spoke about the challenges students from disadvantaged backgrounds face and highlighted the creative teaching methods LYCS uses to help Adult learners overcome obstacles and create art responsive to issues they care about.
Closing Reflections and Creative Inspiration
The visit wrapped up with Minister Richmond , Ellen Corby and Martin McConigley discussing the future of GCE work within LYCS and across the wider world. The Minister was also gifted a beautiful stained-glass art piece made by one of our Adult Ed groups, symbolising creativity, resilience, and hope.
Minister Richmond thanked LYCS’s staff, tutors, and students personally, greeting everyone with a handshake.
Looking Ahead
We were delighted to share our story and celebrate the incredible work happening daily at LYCS. The visit highlighted the importance of collaboration between government and community organisations in creating opportunities for everyone to learn, grow, and make a positive impact, no matter their background.
Thank you to Minister Neale Richmond and all attendees for their interest in our community initiatives and their ongoing support.
