Clare's creative youth take centre stage at National Children's Summit

The Limerick and Clare Local Creative Youth Partnership (LCYP) showcased two youth-led projects at the recent Child Poverty and Wellbeing Summit 2025 in Dublin's Aviva Stadium.

Hosted by Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board (ETB), the LCYP is part of the Creative Ireland Programme. This is a government initiative which provides children and young people, aged 0–24, with limited access to opportunities so they can express themselves creatively in community settings. 

It brings together ETBs, local authorities, youth services, family support services and the creative sector, fostering partnerships and community connections.

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At the summit in Dublin, Taoiseach Micheál Martin visited the LCYP installation, meeting with the team and viewing the creative works developed by young people from the Clare and Limerick regions.

Highlighting the role of ETBs in championing creativity and youth voice, Donncha Ó Treasaigh, Director of Schools at Limerick and Clare ETB, said: “These projects demonstrate the real impact of the Local Creative Youth Partnership in the region. By giving young people a platform to express themselves and by building strong collaborations across education, youth, and the creative sectors, we are supporting wellbeing and inclusion in a very meaningful way. It is inspiring to see their voices represented at a national level.”

In partnership with The GAFF Arts Centre, Paint Punch invited young people to turn energy into art by striking canvases with paint-dipped boxing gloves. Playful and pressure-free, the project promoted wellbeing, confidence, and self-expression. This stunning project featured paint-splattered boxing gloves, symbolising creativity, strength, and transformation.

In collaboration with Clare Youth Service, Ukrainian children in Kilkee co-created 'Once Upon a Kazka', a storybook blending Ukrainian folktales with English storytelling. The project provided a safe, creative space for participants to reconnect with their heritage and share stories with Irish peers.

This heart-warming initiative featured a copy of the book along with a bookmark, featuring the symbols for family and freedom.

Speaking about the projects and their presence at the Child Poverty and Wellbeing Summit this year, Zara Starr Madden, Coordinator at Limerick and Clare LCYP, said: “We were so proud to spotlight two incredible youth-led projects at this year’s summit that prove creativity is a force for wellbeing, identity and connection. We were delighted to collaborate on these projects as they reflect the heart of the LCYP’s aim to amplify youth voices and foster connection through creativity. We look forward to seeing youth creativity continue to grow and we deeply value the partnerships with The GAFF Arts Centre in Limerick and Clare Youth Service which made this possible.”