Aidan McGrath
Encyclopedia
Aidan McGrath is an Irish
youth activist. He is the former President
of Ireland's National Youth Organisation. He was twice elected to represent his Constituency of Fingal
in Ireland's National Youth Parliament, Dáil na nÓg, and was Chairperson of both the Swords Youth Council and the Fingal Comháirle na nÓg. He is a member of Fingal County Council
's General Strategic Policy Comittee and the Planning Strategic Policy Committee. In 2010 he was named one of the top Youth Leaders in both the Republic Of Ireland
and Northern Ireland
by the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals and the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland.
.
's the Last Word to discuss issues that concerned young people, in particular, the reintroduction of Third Level College Fees. He also appeared on Ireland's National Broadcaster RTÉ
(Radío Telfís Eireann) to discuss issues that concerned young people in his capacity as President
of the National Youth Organisation. He has appeared on other national radio stations such as FM104
and PhantomFm, again highlighting the views and opinions of young people, in particular students from 12–18 years of age.
McGrath has also undertaken modelling activities in Leeds
, United Kingdom both for charity events and commercially for Bank Fashion, a UK high street store.
contributed advice to a forum held in Stormont
, Belfast, which examined the setting up of a Youth Parliament for Northern Ireland
's young people. He publicly addressed Northern Irish youth representatives from various communities and provided guidance on the issue.
He was active in his own community as Chairperson of the Swords Youth Council and worked alongside Local Councillors, Clare Daly
, Tom Kelleher, Anne Devitt and Darragh Butler in an effort to secure funding or a facility for a Youth Café for the young people of Swords. Their efforts received local media attention and support from the Community. He was later appointed to Fingal County Council
's General Strategic Policy Committee.
McGrath, as part of the steering committee of Ireland's National Youth Parliament, met with Mary Harney
, TD
and former Minister for Health in an effort to have the cervical cancer vaccine made available free of charge for all 12-18 year old girls. On Saturday, 16th January, Mary Harney
announced the the plan would be implemented.
by the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals and Pramerica Systems Ireland. He was nominated for the award for developing links between local government and young people, ensuring young people were involved in the decision-making process.
. He has built up a large following within the LGBT
community on the website for his advice, opinions and video posting against blogs that commit incitement of hatred. The majority of his Tumblr followers reside in the United States.
He also blogs through his personal blog wordsofwar.wordpress.com.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
youth activist. He is the former President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of Ireland's National Youth Organisation. He was twice elected to represent his Constituency of Fingal
Fingal
Fingal is a county in Ireland. It is one of three smaller counties into which County Dublin was divided in 1994. With its county seat located in Swords, it has a population of 239,992 according to the 2006 census...
in Ireland's National Youth Parliament, Dáil na nÓg, and was Chairperson of both the Swords Youth Council and the Fingal Comháirle na nÓg. He is a member of Fingal County Council
Fingal County Council
Fingal County council is the local authority for the county of Fingal in Ireland. It is one of three local authorities that comprised the former Dublin County Council before its abolition and one of four councils in the Dublin Region. The county seat is in Swords, with another major office...
's General Strategic Policy Comittee and the Planning Strategic Policy Committee. In 2010 he was named one of the top Youth Leaders in both the Republic Of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
by the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals and the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland.
Education and childhood
McGrath was born in Dublin and educated in Fingal Community College, SwordsSwords, Dublin
Swords is the county town of Fingal in Ireland. It is about 13 km north of Dublin city centre and is part of its commuter belt.- History :...
.
Public appearances
McGrath appeared on Today FMToday FM
Radio Ireland Ltd, trading as 100-102 Today FM is an Irish commercial FM radio station which is available nationally. The station, which commenced broadcasting on Saint Patrick's Day in 1997, can be received nationally and carries a mix of music and talk...
's the Last Word to discuss issues that concerned young people, in particular, the reintroduction of Third Level College Fees. He also appeared on Ireland's National Broadcaster RTÉ
RTE
RTÉ is the abbreviation for Raidió Teilifís Éireann, the public broadcasting service of the Republic of Ireland.RTE may also refer to:* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 25th Prime Minister of Turkey...
(Radío Telfís Eireann) to discuss issues that concerned young people in his capacity as President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of the National Youth Organisation. He has appeared on other national radio stations such as FM104
FM104
FM104 is an Independent Local Radio station broadcast across Dublin, Ireland, on the frequency 104.4 MHz. It is operated by Capital Radio Productions Limited , and is a subsidiary of UTV Radio. The station broadcasts under a sound broadcasting contract from the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland...
and PhantomFm, again highlighting the views and opinions of young people, in particular students from 12–18 years of age.
McGrath has also undertaken modelling activities in Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, United Kingdom both for charity events and commercially for Bank Fashion, a UK high street store.
Activism
McGrath, on behalf of the Northern Ireland AssemblyNorthern Ireland Assembly
The Northern Ireland Assembly is the devolved legislature of Northern Ireland. It has power to legislate in a wide range of areas that are not explicitly reserved to the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and to appoint the Northern Ireland Executive...
contributed advice to a forum held in Stormont
Stormont
-People:* Lord Stormont, British ambassador to France in the 18th century-Structures:* Stormont , first-class cricket ground in the Stormont Estate* Stormont Castle, currently used by the Northern Ireland Executive...
, Belfast, which examined the setting up of a Youth Parliament for Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
's young people. He publicly addressed Northern Irish youth representatives from various communities and provided guidance on the issue.
He was active in his own community as Chairperson of the Swords Youth Council and worked alongside Local Councillors, Clare Daly
Clare Daly
Clare Daly is an Irish Socialist Party politician and trade union activist. She was elected as a Teachta Dála for the Dublin North constituency at the 2011 general election. She was previously a Socialist Party councillor for the Swords electoral area on Fingal County Council.-Early life:Daly was...
, Tom Kelleher, Anne Devitt and Darragh Butler in an effort to secure funding or a facility for a Youth Café for the young people of Swords. Their efforts received local media attention and support from the Community. He was later appointed to Fingal County Council
Fingal County Council
Fingal County council is the local authority for the county of Fingal in Ireland. It is one of three local authorities that comprised the former Dublin County Council before its abolition and one of four councils in the Dublin Region. The county seat is in Swords, with another major office...
's General Strategic Policy Committee.
McGrath, as part of the steering committee of Ireland's National Youth Parliament, met with Mary Harney
Mary Harney
Mary Harney is a former Irish politician. She served as Tánaiste from 1997–2006, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment from 1997–2004, and as Minister for Health and Children from 2004 to 2011...
, TD
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
and former Minister for Health in an effort to have the cervical cancer vaccine made available free of charge for all 12-18 year old girls. On Saturday, 16th January, Mary Harney
Mary Harney
Mary Harney is a former Irish politician. She served as Tánaiste from 1997–2006, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment from 1997–2004, and as Minister for Health and Children from 2004 to 2011...
announced the the plan would be implemented.
Awards
In March 2010, McGrath was announced one of the Top Youth Leaders in the Republic of IrelandRepublic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
by the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals and Pramerica Systems Ireland. He was nominated for the award for developing links between local government and young people, ensuring young people were involved in the decision-making process.
Blogging activity
McGrath actively blogs through the popular US website, TumblrTumblr
Tumblr is a website and microblogging platform that allows users to post text, images, videos, links, quotes and audio to their tumblelog, a short-form blog. Users can follow other users, or choose to make their tumblelog private. The service emphasizes ease of use. The site ranks as the 10th...
. He has built up a large following within the LGBT
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
community on the website for his advice, opinions and video posting against blogs that commit incitement of hatred. The majority of his Tumblr followers reside in the United States.
He also blogs through his personal blog wordsofwar.wordpress.com.