Youth Clubs Across Cork Invited to Celebrate on First-Ever National Youth Night
Cork youth clubs invited to join Ireland's first Youth Night on 21 November with funding available to celebrate young people and volunteers.
Youth clubs and services across Cork are being invited to take part in Ireland's first-ever Oíche na hÓige (Youth Night) on Friday 21 November 2025, with funding available to support community celebrations showcasing the vital role of youth work.
Minister for Education and Youth Helen McEntee announced the new national initiative today (15 October), which will see youth clubs and services across Ireland open their doors to their communities on a pilot basis. The event aims to celebrate young people, their youth workers, and the volunteers who support hundreds of thousands of young people nationwide.
On Oíche na hÓige, participating clubs and services will invite the public into their spaces to showcase what youth work means to them. Participants are encouraged to design celebration events that highlight their activities and raise awareness of the impact youth work has on local communities.
Minister McEntee said:
"I am delighted to announce Oíche na hÓige 2025, a new initiative to celebrate youth work and youth clubs, their members, their youth workers, and their volunteers, and to showcase the value that youth work brings to young people and the wider community. I encourage all eligible clubs and services, and their members, to take this opportunity to show their community what youth work means to them."
The initiative has been inspired by the success of events such as Culture Night and Open House Dublin. It is supported under Opportunities for Youth, the national strategy for youth work and related services, and aims to shine a light on the vibrant network of youth clubs at the heart of communities across Ireland.
Funding is being made available through Education and Training Boards to help clubs and projects host their events. Youth clubs funded under the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme can apply for grants up to €500, while youth services funded under UBU Your Place Your Space can apply for grants up to €1,200.
The grants can cover costs including food and drink, music and equipment hire, materials, displays, entertainment, and promotional costs such as media, video, photography, and printing.
Cork's youth clubs and services interested in participating should contact their local ETB Youth Officer for more information. Further details are available from the Department of Education and Youth.
