Mid-Louth Youth Service hold workshop event with The Two Norries

Mid-Louth Youth Service last Wednesday hosted an event with The Two Norries at An Táin Arts Centre in Dundalk, where themes such as Toxic Masculinity, Substance Use and Male Mental Health were discussed over a series of workshops and consultations. 

The event was organised by Mid-Louth Youth Service, and was attended by over 70 young men, who in these workshops, talked about a range of issues relating to mental health, as well as the current standard of service provision available in the community. 

“The main purpose of the day was to give young men across Louth an opportunity to have their voice heard, and to discuss topics and issues that are unique to them in their peer groups,” said Mid-Louth Youth Service project coordinator Damien McKenna.

Following the workshops and consultations, the young men were then given the opportunity to speak with James Leonard and Timmy Long of The Two Norries Podcast. 

James and Timmy are both from the northside of Cork city, and their podcast covers themes across the social and health sphere, with a particular focus on addiction, drug use, crime and recovery. Guests include people’s personal stories of overcoming adversity, as well as professionals’ perspective on issues discussed in the podcast. 

“To have The Two Norries come in and tell their story was wonderful,” added Damien. 

“We just hope that some of the lads, if not all, took something away from the day that will benefit them in the future. Us as youth services will look to build on these consultations and these findings. Hopefully that will build even stronger programmes and projects that will only service and act as provision for young males in the county.” 

The event was supported by the International Fund for Ireland, the Louth Children and Young People's Services Committee, as well as Healthy Ireland, and had representation from Mid-Louth Youth Service, Foroige, Youth Work Ireland Louth, Deeside School Completion Programme, Dundalk Youth Centre, Magnet Newry and Limestone United.

“It was a pleasure to have all the youth services involved. A special thank you to Dundalk Youth Centre and Youth Work Ireland, who helped us to organise and deliver the event, and to all the youth services who were involved as well, which is wonderful.

“A special word of thank you to Louth CYPSC, who help fund us, and the unwavering and always supportive International Fund for Ireland, who have been so good and have really done so much great work in terms of direct funding to the Mid-Louth area.”

The International Fund for Ireland has supported Mid-Louth Youth Service in all of their work since 2017 and continues to do so. The International Fund for Ireland was established as an independent organisation by the British and Irish Governments in 1986 with financial contributions from the United States of America, the European Union, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

The Fund aims to promote economic and social advance, as well as encourage contact and dialogue between nationalists and unionists throughout Ireland.

Louth Children and Young People's Services Committees (CYPSC) is responsible for improving the lives of children, young people and families at local and community level through integrated planning, working and service delivery.

Louth Children and Young People's Services Committee will ensure that professionals and agencies work together so that children and families receive better and more accessible services.

Mid-Louth Youth Service would like to extend its gratitude to Joe and Tess McLaughlin from Joe’s Deli, Anne Joynt from D-Lish, Alan Graham from 23 Seats, and Killian from Rocksalt for kindly providing the young people with food and refreshments on the day.