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.

An Óige
Established7 May 1931
FoundersThekla Beere
Marion Tweedy
and C.E. Terry Trench
Founded atDublin, Ireland
TypeYouth organization
Legal statusNon-profit
FocusTo encourage youths to appreciate the Irish countryside through hostelling.
HeadquartersDublin, Ireland
Location
  • 61 Mountjoy Street (closed)
Coordinates53.356013°N 6.268294°W / 53.356013; -6.268294
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)
AffiliationsHostelling International
Websiteanoige.ie

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:

  1. 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.
  2. To foster an appreciation of the Irish cultural and historical heritage
  3. 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.
  4. To co-operate with kindred associations in other countries.
  5. To take any other steps calculated to further such objectives.[4]

References
  1. "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.
  2. 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.
  3. "An Óige Hostel Guide". An Óige. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  4. "Over 80 Years Young And Counting…". An Óige. Retrieved 13 February 2016.


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