Connecting Communities to Ireland’s EU Presidencies
Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2026 is an important moment for Ireland in Europe – and an opportunity to bring communities across the country into the heart of that experience.
Alongside the formal Presidency programme, a nationwide outreach and engagement initiative is connecting people across Ireland with the work of the European Union and Ireland’s European role. Through local events, educational initiatives, cultural exchange and community partnerships, the programme is designed to make the Presidency visible, accessible, and relevant to people of all ages and backgrounds.
From cities and towns to rural communities, the Presidency is creating opportunities for people across Ireland to engage with Europe in meaningful ways, while also showcasing Ireland’s culture, communities and European partnerships to an international audience.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Helen McEntee TD, engages with students from University College Cork
Engaging the Next Generation
Young people are at the centre of the Presidency outreach programme.
A wide range of resources and activities have been developed to help children and young people better understand the European Union, Ireland’s Presidency priorities and the importance of European cooperation in everyday life. The programme is designed to encourage curiosity, creativity and participation, while helping young people to explore Ireland’s place within a changing and interconnected Europe.
As part of this work, a children’s book on Ireland’s EU Presidency Priorities is being produced in partnership with an award-winning Irish publisher, author, and illustrator. The book is designed for children aged 8-12 and introduces young readers to engage with the work of the Presidency and Ireland’s priorities in an accessible way.
The publication will be made available online, with copies distributed to sixth-class students across the country in September 2026.
Additional resources aimed at secondary school students and young people aged 15-18 are also being developed to support active citizenship and participation during the Presidency period.
Young people will be encouraged to engage creatively with the EU through Presidency themed competitions and activities linked to the educational resources.
Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne TD, engages with Ibec.
Building Local Connections across Europe
A key feature of the outreach programme is an initiative pairing counties across Ireland with EU member states during the Presidency period.
The initiative will see each county paired with another EU member state, creating opportunities to build direct European connections.
Through these partnerships, communities across Ireland are building direct links with countries across the European Union. Ambassadors of EU member states in Ireland, together with Irish Ambassadors accredited to those countries, are visiting communities to participate in local events and outreach activities.
These visits involve schools, libraries and community organisations, helping to promote cultural exchange, mutual understanding and stronger local connections across Europe.
Since June 2025, the Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne TD has visited communities throughout Ireland to discuss the Presidency and engage directly with young people through visits to schools and libraries. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Helen McEntee TD has also engaged with students at third-level institutions in different parts of the country as part of the Presidency outreach programme, encouraging discussion and participation around Ireland’s role in Europe and the opportunities presented by the Presidency.
Together, these initiatives are helping to ensure that the Presidency is not only experienced at government level but also within communities across Ireland and shared with partners throughout Europe.
Local Authorities across Ireland have been encouraged to deliver cultural and community events that resonate with their locality throughout the Presidency, with events set to take place in communities during the Presidency term.
A Presidency People Can Experience
Ireland’s approach to outreach and engagement reflects a broader ambition of the Presidency: to create opportunities for participation, learning and connection throughout the country.
By opening up the Presidency to communities and young people, the programme aims to strengthen understanding of the European Union and highlight the importance of Ireland’s relationships and partnerships across Europe.
Throughout 2026, Ireland’s EU Presidency is being represented not only in conference venues and meeting rooms but also in classrooms, libraries and cultural spaces and communities around the country – creating a Presidency that people can experience, participate in and remember.