Youth Wave 2024 brought a vibrant burst of energy, creativity, and connection to the National Sports Campus in Dublin on Saturday, October 5th. Organised in partnership with the Club Development Network, the event welcomed over 250 young people from Youth Work Ireland member youth services for a day packed with hands-on workshops, laughter, teamwork, and skill-building.
This annual celebration of youth clubs is more than just an event—it’s a chance for youth participants, workers, and volunteers to come together on a national stage, learn something new, have fun, and bring fresh energy back to their local communities.
🎨 Workshops That Inspired, Engaged, and Entertained
This year’s interactive workshops were designed to spark curiosity, foster creativity, and build confidence across a wide range of interests. Highlights included:
Creative Tech & Virtual Reality: Young people explored the future through Meta Quest 3 VR headsets, diving into immersive digital worlds that blended entertainment with learning.
Sustainability & Art: In a colourful, hands-on workshop, participants reused plastic caps to create visual art while engaging with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Face Painting: A practical session where youth and volunteers learned artistic techniques and styles to take back to their clubs.
Circus Skills & Juggling: Fast-paced and energising, these workshops gave participants the chance to try something new, develop coordination, and have a laugh.
Skipping Skills: With rhythm and teamwork at the core, young people were encouraged to step out of their comfort zones and grow in confidence.
Team Building: Games, challenges, and group activities helped build trust, leadership, and connection among peers.
⚽ Taster Sessions That Got Everyone Moving
In addition to the workshops, the event featured a range of sports tasters led by experienced coaches. From soccer, basketball, and volleyball to obstacle courses, tug of war, and three-legged races, young people had the opportunity to try new activities and discover new talents in a supportive, high-energy environment.
🔁 Taking the Learning Home
One of the most powerful outcomes of Youth Wave is its ripple effect. The skills, experiences, and enthusiasm gained on the day were brought back to local youth clubs—shared with peers and built into future activities. Whether it was a new craft idea, a circus trick, or a team-building game, young people left empowered to lead, create, and inspire in their own communities.
🙌 Thank You to Everyone Involved
A huge thank you to the amazing volunteers, youth workers, facilitators, and coaches who made Youth Wave 2024 such a success. Your energy, commitment, and care created an environment where every young person felt welcome, supported, and excited to participate.
We’re already looking forward to Youth Wave 2025—and the next opportunity to celebrate the power of youth work, creativity, and community coming together.
