The GAA’s National Youth Committee has been given responsibility for an overall programme for Youth Consultation – named #GAAyouth – as the GAA seeks the views of children and young people on the issues that matter to them. The purpose of the committee is to also explore existing models for children and young people to voice their opinions and to make recommendations on how suitable models can be developed going forward.

As part of the #GAAyouth Programme, the National Youth Committee have identified a number of existing initiatives that work well and allow children and young people in the GAA to voice their opinions including the Youth Forum run in Newport GAA Club, Tipperary as well as the Annual Youth Forum organised by Tipperary GAA for players from all clubs in Tipperary.

For the past two years Newport GAA have held an annual Youth Forum in the club, which is organised and run by a group of young players who are in Transition Year. The Forum is held for young players ranging from U14 to Minor level and allows them to talk about issues that they feel should be brought to the attention of the Club Executive. The whole idea started back in 2012 when, Cora Moroney – Children’s Officer in the Club – approached a group of players who were doing Transition Year in the local Secondary School, St. Mary’s, and asked them if they would be interested in running a Youth Forum for their fellow players.