Louth communities unite for Youth Projects Football Tournament

Mid Louth Youth Service says it was proud to participate in the second instalment of the Youth Projects Football Tournament—an inspiring initiative delivered in collaboration with Healthy Ireland, the Redeemer Family Resource Centre, and Dundalk Youth Centre.

First launched in November of last year, the tournament is designed to promote positive physical health in safe, inclusive, and community-focused spaces such as youth centres. Beyond the pitch, the event serves as a valuable platform to share vital information and raise awareness about the wide range of health and wellbeing supports available to young people across the county.

This edition featured two separate competitions: a morning tournament for young people aged 10–12, followed by an afternoon match series for those aged 13–16.

Teams representing Mid Louth Youth Service, Youth Work Ireland Louth, Blackrock Youth Club, and the Redeemer Centre came together in a spirit of unity and friendly competition. In total, approximately 40 young people from across Louth took part in this cross-community event, which sought to foster positive relationships, encourage social inclusion, and break down barriers through sport. 

Mid Louth Youth Service says it proudly fielded a team in each age category, with young participants from Ardee and Dunleer showcasing their skills and team spirit.

Football has long been a powerful tool for youth engagement for Mid Louth Youth Service. Through initiatives such as the FAI Late Night Leagues—run in partnership with An Garda Síochána—Mid Louth Youth Service continues to use sport as a meaningful way to connect with young people, encourage healthy lifestyles, and build stronger, more resilient communities.

Niall Newberry, Youth Worker with Mid Louth Youth Service, reflected on the event, saying: “It was an honour to be invited once again to take part in the Youth Projects Football Tournament. I would like to extend our sincere thanks to the Redeemer Centre and Dundalk Youth Centre for their invaluable support in enabling us to bring teams to the event.

“As with the previous tournament, our young people thoroughly enjoyed the experience and relished the opportunity to get out for the day. For many in Mid Louth, rural isolation remains a significant barrier, and cross-community initiatives like this play a vital role in complementing the work we do on the ground.

“Football has long been one of our most effective tools for engagement, allowing us to reach young people who might otherwise be difficult to connect with—including those from the Traveller community, asylum seekers, and young people in residential care.

“The day was a resounding success, not only in terms of participation but in fostering new friendships and building connections between young people from across the county. We’re already looking forward to the next tournament with great anticipation.”

Damien McKenna, Community Services Manager at Redeemer Family Resource Centre, remarked: “It was excellent to see genuine youth workers coming in and making a real difference for these young people. There were two teams that came from Mid Louth, and you couldn’t get them in, couldn’t get them out without the dedication of hardworking youth workers who took up their time on a Saturday. I think that’s actually amazing to see, and fair play to every youth worker that turned up on that Saturday.”