A lot of people seem to remember the photo of myself and fellow delegate Samantha O’Brien O’Reilly casually chatting with George and Amal Clooney in the UN hallways. Yes, that happened. And yes, it was surreal.
I was 25 when I applied and served as a UN Youth Delegate for Ireland. I’m now 34, still active, passionate and involved in youth advocacy.
For me, the real highlight was the UN General Assembly High-Level Week in New York. It’s a key moment in the UN calendar when world leaders gather to discuss global issues. It was mind-blowing to be in the same corridors as presidents, prime ministers, and diplomats, sometimes literally rubbing shoulders with them.
Yet beyond the star-struck moments, there was a deeper realisation: we had a serious role to play. Samantha and I had held consultations with young people across Ireland before heading to New York, and we were determined to bring their voices to the global stage. We hustled, we had meetings with Irish officials, UN representatives, and decision-makers.
Thanks to our delegate ID cards, we gained access to high-level events, including one where we were just metres away from then U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, able to raise questions directly on behalf of Irish youth.
One of the most meaningful parts of the experience happened before we even left Ireland.
We met with young people from all walks of life, those thriving and those struggling. Despite their differences, a common theme emerged: many felt unheard and not fully trusted by some in power. Boards and organisations were becoming more diverse in terms of gender and culture, but younger voices were still missing. That experience stuck with me and continues to fuel my commitment to advocacy. It reminded me of the importance of the phrase: “Think globally, act locally.”
One of the biggest hurdles on the programme was gaining trust from those in positions of power. There was sometimes a dismissive attitude, “They’re only young, what could they possibly know?” But over time, we saw that bias break down. Once given the chance, we proved our worth.
Another frustration was the global inconsistency. Not every country had a Youth Delegate Programme, and some governments were slow to embrace youth representation. Even in Ireland, the programme faced resistance long before the programme was established.
I’ll admit that, walking into UN Headquarters for the first time, I had a touch of imposter syndrome. But I learned quickly that feelings aren’t facts, and that the old Irish adage “children should be seen and not heard” is outdated and harmful. Professionally, the experience sharpened my diplomacy and negotiation skills. I found myself in rooms negotiating with countries that wanted to block youth policies, real, high-stakes discussions. It also shaped my career path.
Today, I work in communications and public relations within the social inclusion and community development sector. The skills and values I gained as a Youth Delegate are central to what I do.
In addition, I was elected to Dublin City Council in June 2019 and re-elected in 2024. It’s not a path I imagined for myself when I was younger, but there’s no doubt that my time as a UN Youth Delegate, meeting young people, hearing their concerns, and speaking on their behalf, played a major role in shaping my journey into public service.
– Colm O’Rourke, 2016 UN Youth Delegate