On February 1, 2025, Sorcha McAnespy, Northern Ireland representative on the Fianna Fáil Ard Comhairle, was invited to speak at LYMEC’s 10th Digital Assembly, an event broadcast across Europe. Hosted in Stormont, the event explored the role of youth in building and protecting peace.
LYMEC (European Liberal Youth) is the youth wing of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) and represents young liberals from across the continent. The Digital Assembly, a key event in its calendar, brings together young political leaders to discuss the future of Europe and promote democracy, human rights, and European integration.
During the discussion, Sorcha reflected on growing up in the North of Ireland during the conflict, the sacrifices made by previous generations—including those who marched for civil rights—and the importance of integration, understanding, and education in ensuring a peaceful future.
“I attended school in Omagh and the horrific bomb that shattered our town and decimated our community in 1998 is something my generation will never recover from, Twenty-six years later, a public inquiry has only just begun, mercifully those of us who were considered youth then, have been able to shape and change society to one where people are more cohesive than ever, we are blessed to live in a shared society, where there is less segregation, whilst we are not fully there yet, and oft times it's the institutions that are lagging behind compounding divisions, most people realise that there is more that unites us than divides us. My children thankfully have no idea of the horror stories that were part and parcel of daily life for 3 decades. Collectively we are on a journey of discovery, learning about each others passions, cultures, history, language and traditions, how many crossovers there are and how we can embrace that with which we knew nothing of in the past. It is an exciting time for young people"
The conversation also highlighted the role of social media, sport, music, and culture in uniting communities and shaping modern identity. Platforms like TikTok, as well as rap artists such as Young Spencer and Kneecap, were discussed as forces of political and social influence among young people. The power of sports and major sporting events in bringing communities together was also a key theme, as was the need for continued investment in arts and culture as a means of fostering connection and understanding.
With participation from young leaders across Europe, the event served as a platform to share insights from Northern Ireland’s peace process and explore how youth activism can continue to shape a more united and inclusive future.
ENDS