ógras 6 harcourt street dublin 2. contact (01) 475 1487 email eolas@ogras.ie

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Ógras - Our History

In 1969, Conradh na Gaeilge (The Gaelic League) decided that there was a need for the provision of youth services through Irish. This decision was taken on the basis of research carried out a few years earlier.

Tomás Ó hEochaidh was employed as Ógras Youth Officer. He set about establishing clubs, organising events, drafting a constitution for the organisation etc. and proved to be a great success. National events were organised throughout the country: Ógras Olympics, Ógras conference at the Oireachtas, the Ógras Debate, Summer Camps and as the years went by, even a couple of international events. He ensured that Ógras was part of the National Youth Council - the umbrella organisation for youth organisations in this country.

On one occasion, a delegation from Ireland, including five Ógras members, went to the World Youth Festival in Moscow, Russia with Tomás in charge of the delegation. According to the folk stories still circulating, a fine time was had by all!

Óg-Ógras

In 1988, Óg-Ógras was established for children between the ages of 8 and 13. It was officially recognised when the Department of Education provided a grant for the employment of an Óg-Ógras youth officer for the first time. There was a great expansion in clubs for this age group and many clubs were established in areas where the more senior Ógras clubs were already operating.

A series of events are set out each year for Óg-Ógras on lines similar to the Ógras clubs. Each province has a day trip for the members before Christmas and another trip in March. In certain areas, a Sports Day is organised for the clubs which is organised much like the Cluichí Tailteann (Tailteann Games) of Ógras - the children do not stay away overnight, however.

Many of the members of Óg-Ógras join the more senior Ógras clubs when they reach the appropriate age for joining.

Previous Chairpersons of Ógras:

1971/'73 Seán Mac Mathúna
1973/'75 Mairéad Bn. Uí Dhomhnaill
1975/'77 Mícheál Mac Gréil, S.J.
1977/'78 Niall Ó Muilleoir
1978/'79 Seán de Paor
1979/'80 Ciarán Ó Feinneadha
1980/'81 Seán de Paor
1981/'83 Pádraig Ó Duibhir
1983/'85 Deaglán de Paor
1985/'88 Pádraig Ó Sabhain
1988/'89 Antóin Mac Cárthaigh
1989/'90 Fiona de Staic
1990/'92 Seán Óg Ó Coisdealbha
1992/'94 Aodhán Ó Meachair
1994/'97 Pádraig de Búrca
1997/'2005 Máirín Uí Ghríofa
2005/' Breandán Ó Cathasaigh