Ballina man hopes for political awakening

A young Ballina man has launched a new social media and online platform focused on making Irish politics more accessible, engaging and relevant to the next generation.

Awaken Ireland is a non-partisan platform that aims to avoid following party lines or pushing any political agenda and instead will focus on open discussion and a belief that young people need to get involved in politics so they continue to have a say in Ireland’s future.

Founder 19-year-old David Newcombe, a former student of St Muredach’s College who now studies Commerce at the University of Galway, said the project was born through his passion for politics and his realisation that many of his peers did not have much understanding of the Irish political system.

“When it came to elections, a lot of my peers would merely vote for who their parents voted for, or in a lot of cases, simply not vote at all,” he said. “A large portion of the electorate, the youth, had no real understanding of the intricacies of the Irish political landscape. Rather than advising friedns on who to vote for, I saw the need for a platform to step up and educate the younger generation on Irish politics free from any bias or party lines."

Awaken Ireland currently has a presence on Instagram and TikTok but David has big plans for the platform’s future. He plans to build on positive reception from the general public and members of Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann to bring it beyond social media to become a nationwide civic movement that immerses young people into the importance of politics and democracy.

David plans to host third-level campus live events such as debates and open forums, secondary school talks and an in-person launch event in the New Year.

“Our generation has more power and potential than we realise,” David added. “Awaken Ireland is about giving young people the confidence and knowledge to use it.” 

Follow Awaken Ireland on Instagram and TikTok at @awaken.ie for regular posts, explainers, and updates.