The Civic Regeneration Forum | Your City Your Say

Your City! Developing the vision updates

Youth Address to Chamber of Commerce

Story added 16 November 2009

Aoife Monaghan, a 16 year old student, currently studying at Thornhill College, recently addressed the 52nd Annual Dinner of the Londonderry Chamber of Commerce. Aoife outlined her future aspirations for her city.

“Derry – My Future”.

Tonight, President, Ladies and Gentlemen it is my privilege to speak to you on behalf of the young people of Derry. The theme of my address is “Derry – My Future”

When I was first asked to write this speech I thought it would be really easy. I thought that I knew, and more importantly, understood what made a great place to live, work and play – but it just is not that simple. I had so many ideas and opinions but I didn’t know which was more important. I tried to think, who I could ask for help, and the answer was obvious……my friends, my peers. So I went into school, went on Facebook and just basically talked to everybody that would listen. I asked simple questions about our city; What do you like about Derry? Do you want to live here when you’re older? Would you like to raise a family or start a business here?

There were, as you could imagine, many different opinions and ideas, but almost all said “Derry needs to change”.

And that is what I want to talk to you about this evening; how we can all work together to make Derry a better place for all of us, the young and the not so young, now and in the future. Derry is, after all, just a place - we all know that what needs to change are the mindsets of our people. We need to move this city and its citizens forward with a sense of urgency and with a sense of purpose. We cannot just blame everybody else for our lack of progress we must also look at ourselves to figure out why we are choosing to be held back.

I am currently a sixth form student at Thornhill College. I will be leaving Derry in 2 years to take up a place in university in either Glasgow, King’s College London, Manchester or Edinburgh. These universities offer dentistry, which is the career I hope to pursue. I am really excited to go to one of these universities. They have excellent research facilities and also offer first class dentistry courses. However, that’s not the only things I have considered. I also can’t wait to enjoy the culture, shopping, and of course the nightlife of these cities too. I’m looking forward to meeting new friends and enjoying different cultures. To be honest I am looking forward to the buzz of city life with all its activity, hype and thrills – I’m looking forward to a real cosmopolitan experience.

From the perspective of myself and my peers Derry just doesn’t offer that at the moment.

There are an awful lot of disgruntled dismayed young people out there who want Derry to rise up and take its rightful place as a growing, thriving, energetic city that will give the Glasgows, Manchesters and Edinburghs of this world a run for their money.

So, what is it that needs to change about Derry to make it a more attractive place for the future generation to live in? What will bring us back from far off universities and what will make those that study and work here want to remain here?

Derry needs jobs, not just any jobs but quality jobs. We need to attract high end jobs in leading edge industries. Yes, we can compete with Edinburgh, Manchester, London for quality of life but we lack the range and variety of high quality jobs to attract and retain our very best people.

Too many of us leave to go to University and don’t come back – and not enough people come here to study at our university and decide to stay. This city cannot lose its citizens, they are vital to our development and progress.

Gone are the good old days when you left university with a degree and you were basically guaranteed a job. Times have changed, my generation is the first not have the job security that higher education used to bring. However, it is not only jobs for graduates that are scarce; it is also jobs for our mums and dads, aunts and uncles…..for all the people of this city.

Derry needs to start playing to its strengths. We are most youthful city in Ireland. We must seriously invest in the development this resource. We need an education system that serves all abilities and motivates and inspires us ALL to reach our full potential. We need to extend our university offering build upon our existing research & development programmes if we are to compete with other cities. Wouldn’t it be nice if someone in Manchester was standing up and saying that they are going to study in Derry because it is the recognised centre of excellence in their chosen career?

I believe another important factor in encouraging people to live and work in Derry, is making it a more attractive place to be. Our city is in a prime riverfront location, we are no more than 30 minutes away from the beautiful beaches of Donegal and Benone….. Our city is a geographical gem!

And we should exploit that! There is nothing nicer than the River Foyle on a lovely sunny day, and yes, I know we don’t get a lot of them here in Derry, but we could enjoy them so much better if we landscaped our riverside. There is so much opportunity for development, from paddle boats to jet skiing; from Riverfront cafes providing outdoor dining and entertainment to beautiful riverside walkways. This city needs to feel and look different. It needs to be clean and safe. I realise and appreciate that many people in this city are working hard on regeneration. I appreciate that it takes time to see these changes – but consider this – what if your pace of change is so slow that it alienates and disengages an entire generation – my generation.

My generation are widely regarded as the Digital Generation. We are in the midst of a digital revolution; we have apps for absolutely everything! My generation communicate very differently from previous ones, through Google, Wiki, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. Our world is global and it is instant. There is no reason for Derry not to be at the forefront of this digital economy. – We can be leaders not followers.

Although we operate in a global economy, home is home and Derry will always be home to me. We want to belong to our city, a place that we are proud of, a city to share with family and friends, a city that allows us to contribute to its growth and Development. I want the opportunity to make my contribution to Derry, to my future.

In 1995 I was three years old when President Clinton made an historical visit to Derry. My daddy took me to see him. Most of it went over my head, but I do remember the excitement of the crowd. Years later I read that he quoted Seamus Heaney, one of our most famous sons, saying that the people of Northern Ireland were in need of a “sea-change...where hope and history rhyme”. As a city we have waited long enough for change, we reject generation apathy, now is our time and we ask you the movers and shakers of today to begin and continue the momentum, so we the next generation can harness the energy of this historical city and put despair and unemployment on the far side of revenge.

I would like to leave you with some words from Seamus Heaney’s poem; The Cure at Troy.

History says, Don't hope

on this side of the grave.

But then, once in a lifetime

the longed for tidal wave

of justice can rise up,

and hope and history rhyme.

So hope for a great sea-change

on the far side of revenge.

Believe that a further shore

is reachable from here.

Believe in miracles

and cures and healing wells.

I first heard those words 13 years ago; now, at 16 I understand their meaning. President, Ladies and Gentlemen, I also hope for a great sea-change.

And Soon!

Aoife McManus

Aoife Monaghan with Chamber President, Jim Sammon.

Comments (0)

You need to sign in to contribute to this page. If you're new to Your City Your Say,
creating your membership is quick and easy.

Your City! Developing the vision updates

Youth Address to Chamber of Commerce

Story added 16 November 2009

Your City quicklinks