File photo of a pre-pandemic Youth 2000
festival Youth 2000 Ireland has launched registration for their ambitious summer 2021 initiative aimed at 16-35 year-olds. Their annual festival, which usually attracts crowds of over 1,000 people from around Ireland, had to move online last summer. This year it will go ahead from August 13-15, but in multiple satellite locations, with public liturgies all happening simultaneously across the country.
Newbridge College in Co. Kildare will act as the epicentre from where the retreat content will be broadcast and live-streamed. Modern technology will virtually connect each of the 12 venues and allow interactive participation. Everyone is encouraged to tune in, not just those unable to attend the public liturgies each day.
All Church and Government guidelines regarding Covid-19 will be adhered to and numbers will be strictly limited. The young organisers are extremely excited to have bodies in seats, people on the ground enjoying an in-person (albeit hybrid version) of their massive signature event.
Keynote speakers for the weekend will include Fr Aelred Magee OCSO, a Cistercian monk of Bethlehem Abbey in Portglenone – he is a former chaplain to students at Queen’s University Belfast.
The theme for this year’s festival from Psalm 16:8 “I keep the Lord ever in my sight, since He is at my right hand I shall stand firm”.
For more information on each of the venues please visit www.youth2000.ie