McDonald’s programme to provide skills and training opportunities for young people in Louth

Pictured above: (L-R): Mel Kiernan InSync; Niamh Curran, InSync Youth Work for Naas/Clane youth projects; Lucy Masterson, CEO, Irish Youth Foundation;  Irish Rugby legend Keith Earls; InSync CEO Tom Dunne; McDonald’s Franchisee Sean Quirke; and (holding sign) Mackenzie Fox, InSync

McDonald’s has launched its Youth Opportunity Ireland 2023 programme, the second of a two-year partnership with the Irish Youth Foundation designed to provide specialised skills and training opportunities to young people from disadvantaged areas. 

Ten youth organisations from across Ireland – including Foroige's Cable Project from Louth – will receive a combined €100,000 in funding from McDonald’s in 2023 to deliver targeted youth employability programmes. These organisations work directly with young people who are not currently in education, employment or training.  

In 2022 over 650 young people took part in McDonald’s Youth Opportunity Ireland funded programmes, learning new technical skills and enhancing their own personal development to help them maximise employment and further training and education opportunities.

Despite record numbers of people in employment in Ireland, youth unemployment has remained higher than the national average. According to the Central Statistics Office (CSO), the youth unemployment rate was 11.2% in August 2023, which is almost triple the overall unemployment rate of 4.1%.

The McDonald’s Youth Opportunity Ireland Programme aims to combat this issue and empower young people with the skills necessary to kick-start their careers or explore further training and education opportunities.

The 2023 programme was launched at a community event in McDonald’s Naas restaurant, with McDonald’s Youth Opportunity Ireland ambassador and rugby player Keith Earls and Naas-based youth group and funding recipient InSync. The event celebrated McDonald’s long-standing support for community groups and charities throughout the country.

Speaking at the launch event, Irish Rugby player and McDonald’s Youth Opportunity Ireland ambassador Keith Earls said: “Last year I saw first-hand the impact of the McDonald’s Youth Opportunity Ireland programme in providing support and opportunities to young people across the country.

"These youth organisations work tirelessly to make the lives of young people better, and that is why I am passionate about supporting this project.”

McDonald’s Franchisee Sean Quirke said: “McDonald’s is proud of its involvement with the Irish Youth Foundation and the success of the McDonald’s Youth Opportunity Ireland programme to date.

"As an organisation we place great importance on providing our people with opportunities to develop and grow in their careers. Helping these youth organisations across the country implement their own employability and skills projects with young people is something that we all strongly believe in.”

Lucy Masterson, Chief Executive of the Irish Youth Foundation said: “The McDonald’s Youth Opportunity Ireland programme addresses an issue that many young people from disadvantaged areas face, how to gain the necessary skills and training that will help them get a job.

"With this funding, eleven youth organisations will be able to roll out specific employability programmes, helping hundreds of young people in the process.” 

The 10 youth organisations receiving funding through the McDonald’s Youth Opportunity Ireland programme in 2023 are:

• Foróige Cable Project (Louth)
• Aiséirí (Kilkenny and Waterford)
• The Acorn Project (Offaly)
• Crumlin Lower Advancing Youth (CLAY) (Dublin)
• Spraoi agus Spórt (Donegal)
• Venture Out Wilderness Project (Galway)
• Youth Work Ireland (Cavan & Monaghan)
• Way2Work (Connacht and Munster)
• The B!G Idea (National programme)
• InSync (Kildare)