An Óige
An Óige (Irish pronunciation: [an̪ˠ ˈoːɟə], meaning "Youth"), or the Irish Youth Hostel Association (IYHA), is a non-profit organisation providing youth hostel accommodation across the Republic of Ireland. An Óige is a member of Hostelling International.
Established | 7 May 1931 |
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Founders | Thekla Beere Marion Tweedy and C.E. Terry Trench |
Founded at | Dublin, Ireland |
Type | Youth organization |
Legal status | Non-profit |
Focus | To encourage youths to appreciate the Irish countryside through hostelling. |
Headquarters | Dublin, Ireland |
Location |
|
Coordinates | 53.356013°N 6.268294°W |
Region served | 13 counties across the Republic of Ireland |
Darragh Miller (Chairperson)
Maria Shanahan (Vice-Chairperson) Marie McDonnell (Company Secretary) Heather Boyle Domhnall Egan Johana Ferriere Tony Graham Philip Hayden Sarah Johnston Peter Silvester David Owens (CEO) | |
Affiliations | Hostelling International |
Website | anoige |
Background
An Óige was founded on 7 May 1931 by an organising committee,[1] which included Thekla Beere, Shane Bodkin, and C.E. Terry Trench, Hon. National Secretary,[2] as a membership based organisation and is a member of the Hostelling International. The first youth hostel was opened in 1931 in Lough Dan (Irish: Loch Dean), near Roundwood (Irish: An Tochar), in County Wicklow (Irish: Cill Mhantáin).
As of 2017, An Óige operates 24 youth hostels in the Republic of Ireland.[3] As of 2019 An Óige has 19 hostels left in operation.
At 4 pm on May 31st, 2019, An Oige Dublin International Youth Hostel, its headquarters, announced its sudden closure.
Objective
An Óige, the Irish Youth Hostel Association has as its charitable aims the following:
- To help all, but especially young people, to a love and appreciation of the countryside, particularly by providing simple hostel accommodation for them whilst on their travels.
- To foster an appreciation of the Irish cultural and historical heritage
- To co-operate with other organisations for the following purposes:
- (a) to preserve the beauties of the countryside.
- (b) to secure and mark rights of way and other footpaths.
- To co-operate with kindred associations in other countries.
- To take any other steps calculated to further such objectives.[4]
References
- "Clár na nÓg E-zine - An Óige is 75 years old". youth.ie. National Youth Council of Ireland. Archived from the original on 19 November 2007. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
- Trench, Terry (1981). Fifty Years Young : The Story of An Óige. Dublin, Co. Dublin: An Óige, Irish Youth Hostel Association. ISBN 9780950029290. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
- "An Óige Hostel Guide". An Óige. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
- "Over 80 Years Young And Counting…". An Óige. Retrieved 13 February 2016.