Speech at International Creative Jam
Killybegs, Co. Donegal, 10 March 2026
A Chairde Uaisle, tá an áthas orm a bheith i bhur gcomhluadar i gceantar galánta na gCealla Beaga anseo i gCo. Dhún na nGall. May I thank Lorraine Thompson, Chief Executive of Donegal Youth Service for the invitation to be with you all today.
The International Creative Jam brings together young people (aged 16-30) from the Atlantic nations of the European Union – France, Ireland, Portugal and Spain – for three days.
Imeacht 3 lá fíor-thábhachtach é seo atá curtha ar fáil ag Municipio de Santo Tirso i gcomhair le Clár an Atlantaigh Interreg. Is iontach go bhfuil deis mar seo agaibh, a chairde óga, chun casadh le chéile, foghlaim óna chéile, díospóireacht a dhéanamh agus teacht ar réitigh.
Led by the Município de Santo Tirso and supported by the Interreg Atlantic Area Programme, the event provides a space for young participants to discuss and create together shared solutions linked to the challenges and opportunities that are presented by the vast Blue Economy of the Atlantic Region.
Céad míle fáilte romhaibh go léir agus go háirithe na daoine óga a thaistil anseo inniu. May I offer a warm welcome to the young people from the Azores, Galicia and Brittany.
As participants you will engage directly with the key challenges facing those who live along the Atlantic Ocean, including island communities and rural inland areas, with a focus on marine sustainability, employment opportunities, social innovation and territorial cohesion. To facilitate engagement, there will be a number of workshops and site visits (cuairt go hOileán Árainn Mhór san áireamh). Tá mé cinnte agus dóchasach go mbeidh smaointe cruthaitheacha agus indéanta ag eascairt ó bhur gcuid plé.
One of these workshops will be in the form of a large-scale “ideation laboratory” with over 100 participants, a great opportunity for the sharing of scientific knowledge related to the Blue Economy.
What jumps out at me is that you yourselves as young people are leading the creative process within a collaborative environment. Such a collaborative environment enables the translation of scientific and technical knowledge into concrete, accessible and actionable proposals, relevant to each territory, with young people leading this shared creative process.
Indeed, the International Creative Jam 2026 is vitally important as a platform for young people to have a real voice in shaping Europe’s future. We need far more of these platforms, especially those aimed at young people. The participation of young people in policy is crucial for creating effective, legitimate and sustainable decisions. Your participation brings fresh perspectives and enables you to become agents of change. By doing so, you are strengthening democracy and fostering active citizenship.
Tá sé rí-thábhachtach go mbeadh tionchar agaibhse ar aon chinneadh nó aon réiteach a chuirfidh as do bhur saoil agus do bhur dtodhchaí. Is sibhse a bheidh ag maireachtáil leis na dúshláin agus dochar mura dtagtar ar réitigh. Ná bíodh drogall oraibh labhairt amach más chun bhur leasa agus leas an chine daonna, na timpeallachta, an dúlra agus na haeráide é.
By providing spaces for participation, projects like ATLIC demonstrate that when young people are enabled and empowered, they respond with creativity, responsibility and a clear vision for sustainable development in the Atlantic Area.
Projects such as ATLIC demonstrate what is possible.
The creation of safe and respectful environments enables meaningful consultation. Such an environment is absolutely essential to allow for creative and sustainable solutions to the challenges we face.
Your focus is on one of those very important challenges – sustainable development in the Atlantic Region. I wish you all the very best in your endeavours over the next few days, and I hope you will enjoy yourselves here in Killybegs.
Bainígí sult, leas agus tairbhe as bhur gcuid ama le chéile.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh.
