Good News

Shankill and Ardoyne Youths Unite to Clean Up Belfast Interface in Powerful Show of Cross-Community Spirit

Young men from the Shankill and Ardoyne areas of Belfast have come together to clean up the contentious Twaddell Avenue and Crumlin Road interface, in a striking act of cross-community solidarity during one of the city's most turbulent weeks. The initiative, organised through the R-City project and the Holy Cross Parish's Passionist Peace Office, saw participants take ownership of a space long defined by sectarian division. The group is now planning an educational trip to South Africa for peace and reconciliation workshops.

Kerry Girls Abigail O'Sullivan and Kiera Geaney Named Local Champions by National Youth Council of Ireland

Two young women from Kerry, Abigail O'Sullivan and Kiera Geaney, have been named Local Champions for the county by the National Youth Council of Ireland, recognising their outstanding contributions to their communities. The award, which celebrates young people making a positive difference across Ireland, highlights the depth of youth civic engagement in rural communities. Their recognition comes as part of a wider national celebration of young people's achievements across all 32 counties.

Dublin Bay Sea Scouts Rescue Swimmer Trapped Under Wooden Bridge at Dollymount

A group of teenage Sea Scouts from the 5th Port troop at Dollymount rescued a swimmer who had become trapped beneath a wooden bridge in Dublin Bay during a routine training session. The quick-thinking response by the young volunteers, who used a rescue boat to reach and stabilise the man, has been praised by water safety authorities as an example of youth preparedness at its best.

Belfast Youth Project Gives School Leavers Construction Skills and Qualifications in New Lodge and Ardoyne

A pioneering Belfast programme has given 16 young people who were not in employment, education or training their first formal qualifications, while simultaneously renovating two community youth centres in New Lodge and Ardoyne. The project, a collaboration between the Screwfix Foundation and social enterprise Volunteer It Yourself, is being held up as a model for tackling youth unemployment in deprived urban areas.

Foyle Cup 2026 Breaks All Records as Over 1,000 Teams Register for Derry's Six-Day Football Festival

The O'Neills Foyle Cup 2026 has shattered its own participation record, with 1,013 teams from Ireland, Europe and North America confirmed for the July tournament — the first time in the competition's 34-year history that the four-figure barrier has been crossed. More than 20,000 players and coaches will descend on the north-west, generating an estimated £8–10 million for the regional economy.

National Carers Week Marks 20th Anniversary Honouring Ireland's Unsung Heroes

National Carers Week celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, shining a light on the more than 500,000 family carers across Ireland who provide unpaid care to loved ones, saving the state billions of euros annually while often sacrificing their own health and wellbeing.

Belfast Journalists Abseil Europa Hotel for Simon Community Fundraiser

A group of Belfast journalists and media personalities descended the side of the Europa Hotel to raise funds for the Simon Community, highlighting the charity's vital work supporting people experiencing homelessness across Northern Ireland.

Record-Breaking Women's Gathering at Magheramore Beach Celebrates Life and Community

Thousands of women descended on Magheramore Beach in County Wicklow for a record-breaking gathering that celebrated friendship, community, and the joy of being alive, in an event that has become one of Ireland's most beloved annual traditions.

Brothers on Course to Smash One Million Pound Dementia Fundraising Goal at Belfast Marathon

Brothers Jordan and Cian Adams, known as the FTD Brothers, were on course to smash their £1 million fundraising target for Frontotemporal Dementia research at the Belfast City Marathon, as part of a challenge to run 32 marathons in 32 counties in 32 days. Both brothers carry the genetic mutation for FTD, the condition that took their mother.

Brothers' 33-Marathon Mission for Dementia Awareness

Ireland's Women Relay Stars Make History in Botswana with World Championship Qualification

The Irish women's 4x400m relay team of Rachel McCann, Sophie Becker, Arlene Crossan, and Sharlene Mawdsley have made history by qualifying for the 2027 World Championships in Beijing with a stunning victory at the World Athletics Relays in Gaborone. Mawdsley's breathtaking 48.34-second anchor leg, overtaking both France and Jamaica, has been hailed as one of the greatest moments in Irish athletics.