Donegal Youth Service to celebrate 45 years with stakeholder event

Donegal Youth Service (DYS) will mark its 45th anniversary with a stakeholder celebration on Friday, 13 November at 10 am in Gallagher’s Hotel, Letterkenny.

The gathering will bring together funders, statutory agencies, community‑organisation staff, Board members, volunteers and other partners to celebrate the organisation’s history, recognise contributors and discuss the future of youth work in Donegal.

The event follows DYS’s “Party in the Park” held in the summer, where young people marked the milestone through music, creativity and participation. Established in 1981 as a volunteer‑led federation of youth clubs, DYS now operates county‑wide, delivering universal, targeted and specialist programmes.

According to the 2025 Annual Report, DYS engaged 20,309 young people, worked with 613 volunteers, trained 2,993 young people and provided 1,354 hours of one‑to‑one support. The anniversary theme, “Young Voices. Real Influence.”, will feature a keynote address by Professor Laura Lundy, noted for her work on children’s rights and participation.

DYS Chief Executive Officer Lorraine Thompson said the milestone highlights the “extraordinary contribution” of volunteers, staff, Board members, funders and partners, and underscores the need for continued partnership, investment and inclusive services.

The organisation’s Strategic Plan 2026‑2028 identifies youth mental health, belonging, rural access, participation and sustainability as key priorities, reflecting growing pressures such as rising demand, volunteer recruitment challenges and rural isolation.

Source: Donegal Daily. Photo: Gene Samit / Pexels.