Cork students visit three parliaments as part of Rotary leadership award

THREE Cork students enjoyed a tour of the Dáil and Seanad as well as visits to the Northern Ireland Parliament in Stormont and the EU Parliament in Strasbourg after they were named among 24 youth leaders from across the country by Rotary Ireland.

Nagle College fifth-year student Lucy O’Sullivan, Sean McSweeney, a TY pupil in Christian Brothers School, and Coláiste Choilm fifth-year David O’Connell were among the group of 24 teenagers from across the island of Ireland to be presented with Rotary Youth Leadership certificates at an event in the EU Parliament’s offices in Dublin recently.

The presentation took place during a week-long all expenses paid trip to Belfast, Dublin, and Strasbourg. In Belfast they received a private tour of the Hall and visited Stormont where they were greeted by Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly of the DUP.

The project, which is run by Rotary Ireland in conjunction with the European Parliament Liaison Office in Dublin, met several politicians including Tánaiste Micheál Martin and Education Minister Norma Foley.

They then spent three days in the EU Parliament in Strasbourg where they were invited to become MEPs for one day and debate topical issues with other young Europeans at Euroscola. Their visit to the French city also involved a trip to the European Court of Human Rights.

David O’Connell said the experience had really informed him of the value of being up to date in current affairs as he had to undergo three interviews as part of the selection process.

“The highlight for me was making friends with everyone on the trip and meeting young Europeans in the European Parliament who shared the same interest as ourselves,” he said, recommending that other students should not miss the opportunity of entering the competition.

Lucy O’Sullivan said she had learned valuable interview skills and gained a lot of confidence from the experience.

“The week itself was amazing and Strasbourg is beautiful,” she said.

CBC student Seán McSweeney said that the key lesson he learnt from the competition was the ability for individuals and groups to make individual changes within their own community and others.