Is the EU important to local teenagers?

“Young people in Ireland feel more European than Irish” is the motion for a debate that will take place in St. Mary’s Hall Athlone on May 21st (4:30-6:00pm) as part of an event organised by Athlone Community Radio 88.4fm and Communicating Europe Initiative 2014. This is a ground-breaking initiative, organised by Athlone Community Radio 88.4fm, resulting in a live radio broadcast of the entire debate involving the secondary schools. “We are delighted to announce that 6 local schools and a Youth group are working very hard preparing for this live debate. This is the first time such a broadcast will take place on air in Athlone and the radio station is overjoyed to be in a position to organise it” says Producer Irena Cvetkovic. The secondary schools taking part are Athlone Community College, The Marist College, Our Lady’s Bower, St Aloysius, St Josephs Summerhill and Moate Community School. Many of the schools involved in the debate are known for their debating skills and each school will have 2 speakers allocated 3 minutes speaking time. Athlone Community Radio 88.4fm will deliver a workshop to teens from The Gateway Youth Project on research and media skills resulting in the participants researching and recording and providing information on the EU. As a result of this workshop they will be providing the listener with fascinating facts about the EU throughout the programme. You can tune in to hear the teenagers explain why there are stars on the EU flag; what the EU National Anthem is; What Ireland gains with EU membership and the Importance of European Elections and other inspiring facts.
The project is assisted by the “Communicating Europe Initiative 2014”
The goal of the project is to include young people in the EU debate and to encourage them to research the issues around the EU. This debate will help young people express their thoughts and opinions about their place in Europe.

The debate will take place at St. Mary’s Hall, Northgate Street on May 21st 4:30-6:00pm, all public welcome to attend. The programme will be broadcast live on Athlone Community Radio 88.4FM online www.athlonecommunityradio.ie and tunein radio app.
Athlone Community Radio’s doors are always open to teenagers who are interested in participating in their local media.