From quiet corners to centre stage: Longford teen’s ‘life changing’ experience

The life cycle of a teenager’s self-esteem is nothing if not a turbulent one. No one knows this better than Granard student and Garda Youth Award nominee, 18 year old Jack Fagan.  

Just 6 years ago, Jack’s confidence was so low that even the idea of speaking to people was bordering on the unthinkable.   

“12-year-old me would have been shaking at the thought of talking to you,” he laughs. “In fact, I wouldn’t have spoken to you at all; I’d have probably just stayed in the corner, hiding. I hated talking to people. After I joined Foróige though, I gained so much confidence. When I started with the club at 12 years of age, I was struggling with my mental health. The club however gave me so much more confidence in myself; it’s been life changing.”

Jack - son of Martin and Ber Fagan and brother of Dervla and Tara - is currently a Leaving Cert student in Granard’s Árd Scoil Phadraig. His local Foróige club is Lus na Gréine, and the starting point of what has been a remarkable success journey for Jack in more ways than one.

Recalling how the club first came on his radar, Jack explains, “My mother, Ber, had noticed I wasn’t happy. Mammy instincts! I was unhappy because of COVID and a few different things that were going on in my life; my mental health was on a bit of a decline; these things happen. My mum volunteers with Foróige so when she noticed I wasn’t myself, she suggested that I give the club a go. I said sure why not, I’ll at least try it! So I went in and just loved it from day one. I knew I wanted to stay with it and keep at it. I didn't know how far I would get with it, but when I started to go further, I couldn’t believe it.”

He adds, “I represented Longford, Westmeath, and Roscommon on the Foróige Reference Panel, which is made up of 62 young people from around Ireland. From there, I was nominated to represent those 62 members on a panel of 16 called the National Council. I was so lucky to then be elected as one of two people to represent Foróige’s 50,000 young people on the board of directors. The way I think of it, Foroige is a company led by young people for young people.”  

Read more: Smashing glass ceilings - the Garda Youth Awards in Longford and Roscommon 

For Jack, it was specifically Foróige’s Leadership For Life course that really propelled him on the path that would transform his entire outlook. 

“It almost makes me emotional, just thinking back on the type of person I was before … getting bullied a lot, not wanting to leave my room, always stuck behind a screen. I didn't even want to go out, but the Leadership For Life course with Foróige really set me forward. It was that course that made me realise, first and foremost, I had to make a change because it wasn't healthy, and secondly, I could also help make a change for other people who are where I was a few years ago.” 

He adds, “Through Foróige, I've had so many opportunities. I've gone on to work with organisations like Spun Out, and the National Youth Assembly of Ireland, which is a government run project. I've also done a day’s work experience with TD Micheál Carrigy. There’s no way I would have gone for that if it hadn’t been for Foróige.”  

The Garda Youth Awards, which took place in the Longford County Council building last week, saw Jack deservedly being nominated for an award in the Individual category.

His fellow Lus na Gréine club members received a Community Safety Award for their incredible work in raising money to fund art therapy sessions for children. 

Speaking about the awards and the results achieved by his friends, Jack said, “I’m so proud of them! They worked really well as a team, it was amazing. Foróige has taught us all so much. My friends (from Lus na Gréine) Mark, Bláthín, and Niamh, are doing the Leadership For Life module three. We started off together in module one and then I went on to complete modules two and three before graduating level six from University of Galway. Now the guys will go on to graduate with their level six qualification in November.” 

Having just begun his Leaving Cert year of secondary school, Jack is naturally looking ahead to what the future might hold. He doesn’t know what career path he will take but he’s also quite comfortable with this uncertainty. The origins of Jack’s wonderfully calm approach can all be traced back to the Lus na Gréine Foróige Club. 

“I haven't a clue what I want to do, but what Foróige has taught me is that I don't need to know because there's so many opportunities out there. Yes exams help, but they're not the be-all-and-end-all, they're really not, and they don't define you as a person either. There's always a way around something."

He adds, "I know I’d like to work with young people, so paediatric nursing and teaching are high up on my list. Also, youth work, social care, occupational therapy, maybe something along those lines? I'd love to work with kids because I really do want to help make that positive change, especially in the younger generations.”      

As well as having a network of good friends in Foróige, Jack is also blessed with the support of a close family. 

He explains, “My mum Ber has such a good work ethic, and likewise my dad Martin is unbelievable. He ran the Busking Festival in Edgeworthstown; I was really young at the time but I remember looking around and being in awe of what he had created.  My parents would definitely be an inspiration to me. I got my networking skills from my dad, and my empathy from my mother. My work ethic, I got from both of them. My family have really helped set me up for the future.”