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Cork City Comhairle na nÓg

In the Autumn of 2024 Cork City Comhairle na nÓg partnered with Cork City Council to plan a social event for Cruinniu na nÓg. The event was to be designed by members of the local youth council Cork City Comhairle na nÓg and young people with disabilities and additional needs. The event would emphasise the importance of accessibility and inclusivity in its design, and through its creation act as a coming together of young people to consider how we can make social events more inclusive.

Over a series of four information-sharing and co-design sessions, members of Cork City Comhairle na nÓg worked alongside their peers to imagine the kind of pop-up youth space they would like to see in Cork City. They consulted with students at of Scoil Bernadette and other young people with support needs. These sessions created a space for open conversation, creativity, and learning, empowering participants to shape an event grounded in accessibility, inclusion, and real lived experience. Ideas developed during these workshops informed every aspect of the final event, from layout and communication tools to the range of activities offered.
Taoiseach Mícheál Martin with members of Cork City Comhairle na nÓg at the Fun Inclusive Youth Space in Marina Market, June 1015. Photo by Darragh Kane.

The Fun & Inclusive Youth Space took place in the Marina Market for Cruinniú na nÓg on 7th June 2025! SPACE stands for Supportive, Playful, Accessible, Creative Environment.  The event was an accessible and welcoming environment for young people to come together, share experiences, and make new friends. There were games, arts and crafts, music, and just young people hanging out - there was something for everyone, even a parents' corner!. Taoiseach Mícheál Martin even dropped in to say hello!

The event catered for teenagers with and without disabilities and this socialisation was of benefit to all who took part. Many parents expressed the need for their teenagers to socialise with their peers in an accessible space. The event was a resounding success and demonstrated clearly that inclusive design benefits everyone.

This project demonstrated what is possible when young people are given the tools, trust, and platform to lead. It highlights the importance of designing with inclusion in mind from the outset, and the positive impact this can have on individuals, families, and communities.

 
Attendees of the Fun Inclusive Youth Space in Marina Market. Photos by Darragh Kane.

Following the success of their event, members of Cork City Comhairle na nÓg decided to work with local graphic artist and youth worker Aleesha Wiegant to create a zine. This zine is designed to be easily printable and captures the steps they took as a group to create their pop-up youth space during Cruinniú na nÓg 2025, with a focus on removing barriers to access for their peers with disabilities.

It includes practical approaches such as learning Lámh signing, creating a social story and sensory map, providing a parents’ corner, offering a range of activities, using NaviLens, creating a quiet space, and welcoming assistance dogs.

The group hopes this zine will act as a blueprint and guide for designing accessible events for young people.

The zine was distributed across YMCA youth spaces as a blueprint for accessible youth events. Having invested a significant amount of planning and thought into their Fun Inclusive Youth Space, the young people involved felt the zine provided a clear and practical outcome to their work, one that could support other groups and community leaders in planning future Cruinniú initiatives.

They also shared their work with other Comhairlí through the national Comhairle website.

Download the full zine here!

Youth Projects