What is Gaisce – The President's Award website?

Updated

gaisce.ie is the official website of Gaisce – The President's Award, Ireland's National Youth Award. It is a personal development programme for young people aged 14–25, framed on the site as a direct challenge from the President of Ireland, Catherine Connolly, encouraging young people to realise their potential. The site is the starting point for two audiences: young people who want to become Gaisce Participants, and adults who want to become President's Award Leaders (PALs).

Who the programme is for

The site states the programme is for young people between 14 and 25. It describes itself as Ireland's national self-development programme and invites visitors to "Start your Gaisce journey today." The award is presented as a personal challenge rather than a competition, with the emphasis on each participant fulfilling their own potential.

What you can do on the site

The homepage splits its main calls to action by role:

If you are… The site offers…
A young person aged 14–25 A "Gaisce Participant" entry point explaining how to take part
An adult supporting participants A "President's Award Leader" entry point explaining the PAL role

Both paths lead to dedicated pages via "Learn More" links. The site does not publish pricing or payment details on the homepage, so costs and any fees should be confirmed through the participant or leader pages rather than assumed.

News, stories and staying involved

Beyond the two role-based entry points, the site functions as a hub for the Gaisce community:

  • Blog and news feed – recent posts cover the 2026–2030 Strategic Plan ("Youth Ready to Dream, Dare, Do!"), the Irish-language version of the 2025 Annual Report, the SUAS Bursary Fund (applications opened for 26/27), the 2026 PAL Pack, a Challenge Partner Showcase, and Gaisce's return to the National Ploughing Championships 2026.
  • Participant impact – a participant survey and Annual Report 2025 are highlighted as evidence of the programme's lasting impact for young people.
  • Social channels – a Linktree collects links to Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok, and the site embeds Instagram and TikTok feeds (@gaisceaward) showing award celebrations, challenge partners and Gold Award participants.

How to use it

Start with the Participant page if you are 14–25 and want to take on the award; use the President's Award Leader page if you want to support young people through it. Check the blog for current openings such as the SUAS Bursary Fund and the annual PAL Pack, and follow the social links for day-to-day updates and participant stories.