Fáilte roimh Samhradh eile le Gaisce – Gradam an Uachtaráin
We’re delighted to welcome another summer with our incredible PAL community! Whether you’re taking a well-earned break until September or are still busy supporting young people, we hope you enjoy the summer months.
A huge thank you to everyone who took part in Be The Arrow: Gaisce 40th Anniversary Challenge – what an amazing journey it’s been! Your energy, enthusiasm, and generosity, especially those who fundraised for the Gaisce SUAS Bursary Fund, have made a real difference in helping young people from marginalised backgrounds take part in the Gaisce Award. Go raibh míle maith agaibh!
Looking ahead, we’ve got some exciting events coming up:
✨ PALCON – our special 40th anniversary conference exclusively for PALs.
✨ For the first time… we’ll be at the National Ploughing Championships in September! Come say hello if you’re there!
There’s a lot happening in the world of Gaisce – and we’re so glad to have you with us on the journey. Keep reading to stay in the loop!
WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING
Be The Arrow 40th Anniversary Challenge
A huge thank you to everyone who took part in Be The Arrow: Gaisce’s 40th Anniversary Challenge! Across Ireland, we saw an incredible wave of energy, positivity and community spirit as people stepped up to try something new, give back, and get active.
From surfing and swimming to running marathons, learning new languages, and volunteering with local organisations, the creativity and commitment of everyone who took part were truly inspiring!
However you chose to Be The Arrow this May, your efforts have made a real and lasting impact.
A special shout-out to those who fundraised for the Gaisce SUAS Bursary Fund. This fund helps ensure that every young person, regardless of their background or circumstances, has the opportunity to take part in the Gaisce Award. With your support, we’re breaking down barriers and opening up access to the Award for even more young people across Ireland.
Don’t forget to check your email to download your official digital Challenge certificate from the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins!
The Gaisce Youth Ambassador Panel Heads To Brussels
Gaisce Youth Ambassador Divine Eugene shares her experience of the Youth Ambassador Panel’s recent trip to the European Parliament in Brussels in April, hosted by MEP Maria Walsh.
My name is Divine, and I am a member of the Gaisce Youth Ambassador Panel. In April, my fellow Youth Ambassadors and I took a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit the European Parliament in Brussels.
When we arrived, we headed to the European Parliament. I had never even dreamed of visiting the Parliament before, and so I was unsure what to expect. We were hosted by Irish MEP Maria Walsh, who gave us a thorough and informative tour of the building. During the tour, we were able to see the offices, the committee room, the conference room and even a large news station. It was so exciting to sit behind the podium with the microphones and voting machines. The tour was very enlightening for me; I had no previous knowledge of the intricate procedures of the Parliament and how legislation is created. I was able to ask Maria questions about her work and journey to where she is in her current career. We discussed the topics surrounding young people in Ireland and Ireland’s identity as a member of the EU.
We unexpectedly met the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, and had the opportunity to discuss our roles as Gaisce Youth Ambassadors, as well as our aim to inspire young people to challenge themselves and get involved in their communities.
My favourite part of the visit was our workshop with Niall Thompson, Head of Support in the Parliament’s IT Department; Michael Scanlon from the VISSEM Centre and EP Translator; and Deirdre O’Hea, former Head of Cabinet to Mairead McGuinness, who now works in the European Parliament’s Internal Bureau. They shared their career journeys with us and offered advice on the various paths someone can take to work in parliament. It was inspiring to hear their stories, and it encouraged me to keep moving forward and challenge myself.
All in all, this trip went above and beyond my expectations! I was fortunate to get some free time to experience the cultural aspects of Belgium and visit some of the city’s popular tourist attractions.
Being a Youth Ambassador for Gaisce has afforded me so many new experiences to learn and grow from, and visiting the Parliament and the European Youth Forum gave us a rare insight into the world of politics.
Maith Thú!
It’s that time of year when many Gaisce participants complete their Awards after investing months of hard work and dedication into their Challenges and Adventure Journey.
We want to take a moment to acknowledge the incredible work being done across the country by our President’s Award Leaders (PALs) supporting young people to achieve their Awards. Behind every certificate and every proud smile is a PAL who has supported, encouraged, and guided them through their journey. Your commitment and care are what make these achievements possible, and we can’t thank you enough.
We’d love to celebrate these moments with you! If your participants have recently completed their Awards, we’d love you or your participants to share photos or videos of their journey or celebrations with us. Whether it’s a group shot from an Adventure Journey or a proud moment at a presentation, we’d be delighted to feature your stories on our social media channels.
📲 Tag us on:
- Instagram, TikTok, BlueSky: @GaisceAward
- Facebook, LinkedIn: @Gaisce – The President’s Award
🏷️ Don’t forget to use the hashtag #GaisceMaithThu so we can find and share your posts!
Let’s continue to shine a light on the amazing achievements of young people—and the PALs who help make it all happen.
Please ensure you have the appropriate media consent from participants before sharing any content.
COMING UP
National Ploughing Championships 2025
We’re excited to share that Gaisce will be at the National Ploughing Championships 2025, taking place from September 16th to 18th in Screggan, Tullamore, County Offaly – and we hope to see you there!
With over 300,000 people expected to attend, it’s a fantastic opportunity for us to connect with the wider community. Whether you’re dropping by for a quick chat, curious to hear what’s new, or want to say hello, the Gaisce team will be there and ready to welcome you.
We’ll have plenty of Gaisce goodies, updates to share, and friendly faces on hand, so if you’re attending the Ploughing, make sure to swing by our stand.
Save The Date: PALCON
On Saturday, 15th November 2025, Gaisce will host PALCON, a special conference for President’s Award Leaders (PALs), at Dublin Castle. This event is one of the highlights of Gaisce’s 40th anniversary celebrations.
We are delighted to announce that this year’s PAL Appreciation Awards will take place during PALCON. These awards are our way of recognising the outstanding commitment and impact of PALs across Ireland. This year, we will introduce an exciting new tiered Award system to honour the hard work of our PALs.
Expect inspiring speakers, valuable networking opportunities, and a chance to celebrate the fantastic work of your fellow PALs—all in a fun and uplifting atmosphere.
We will contact you later in the year with all the details and how you can register for this exciting event—we can’t wait to see you there!
Exciting Things Ahead for Our PALs
There’s plenty to look forward to over the next few months!
We’re excited to be hosting two popular events again—the Challenge Partner Showcase and the Approved Adventure Journey Providers Showcase, with more inspiration for you and your participants to make the most of the Gaisce Journey.
Looking ahead, the brand-new PAL Pack will be winging its way to you in early September. And don’t forget—there are loads of helpful tools and resources already available in Gaisce’s Learning Hub to support you in guiding your Gaisce participants every step of the way!
We’re excited to bring you even more updates, surprises and ways to celebrate Gaisce’s incredible milestone with us throughout the year. Stay connected with us on our website and social media channels—there’s plenty more to come!