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Child Talks
Child Talks is our annual event held every November to celebrate World Children’s Day. Running since 2018, Child Talks hears directly from children and young people about the issues that matter to them.
Child Talks typically features five speakers under the age of 18 who give five minute talks on their chosen topic on stage, in front of a live audience of schoolchildren. The event is also streamed live on the OCO website. You don’t need to have any public speaking experience to take part in Child Talks. All you need is an idea of a topic you want to speak about and how it has affected your life. All our speakers are supported by a storytelling coach and mentor through in person and online workshops to help them prepare for the event. Since 2018 our speakers have talked about a whole range of different issues, including mental health, being LGBTQ+ in Ireland, growing up in Ireland as a young Traveller, period poverty, autism, homelessness, Direct Provision, life with scoliosis, accessibility, rural transport and vaping.
Selection:
A call out is made on our social media around May for children and young people to apply on our website to take part in Child Talks. The OCO alongside storytelling coach and mentor Julien Clancy of the Dublin Storyslam, as well as an independent judge, come together to select the speakers each year. Speakers are selected based on:
Topic:
- Issues that are directly linked to children’s rights and a child’s ability to enjoy their rights.
- Relevant, topical issues that are currently impacting children (based on issues in the news, issues being raised by Government, OCO reports).
- New topics that haven’t featured in Child Talks before or haven’t featured for some time.
- A mix of serious/heavy issues and uplifting stories.
Location, age, gender:
- A good representation of different locations around the country
- A fair mix of gender
- Applicants must be aged 12 and over, and up to aged 17 at the time of applying to take part.
Application or invitation:
- Speakers are selected through open callout and are invited to complete our application form.
- The consent of the speakers and their parent/ guardian to take part in Child Talks must be obtained before the young person can take part.
Applications for Child Talks 2026 are now closed. You can register your interest for our next Child Talks event.
Child Talks 2005
Child Talks is an annual event from the Ombudsman for Children’s Office to mark World Children’s Day that hears directly from children and young people about the issues that matter to them. This year we broadcasted live from the Helix in Dublin again.
Child Talks gives young people a platform to share their views and experiences on issues that are important to them. Topics this year include the housing and homelessness crisis, girls in STEM, the need for public spaces for teenagers to hang out, a rise in extremism and misinformation, finding your voice and how youth services support young people.
Child Talks 2024
Child Talks is an annual event from the Ombudsman for Children’s Office to mark World Children’s Day that hears directly from children and young people about the issues that matter to them. This year we broadcasted live from the Helix in Dublin again.
Now in its seventh year, Child Talks gives young people a platform to share their views and experiences on issues that are important to them. The theme of this year’s event is ‘Tomorrow Starts With Us’ with topics such as single-parent families, young carers, growing up as a neurodivergent child in rural Ireland, girls in sport, and the experiences of a young person of colour.
Get more information and watch videos of Child Talks 2024 here
Child Talks 2023
The 2023 Child Talks event broadcasted live from the Helix in Dublin!
Our theme in 2023 was ‘The Ireland I want to live in…’ with topics such as mental health, being LGBTI+ in Ireland, vaping, neurodiversity in schools, and access to STEM subjects for girls.
Child Talks 2022
Child Talks is an annual event from the Ombudsman for Children’s Office to mark World Children’s Day that hears directly from children and young people about the issues that matter to them. To celebrate Child Talks fifth year, we came directly to you live from the home of Dáil Éireann in Leinster House!
Child Talks gives children a platform to share their views and experiences on issues that are important to them. Inspired by the location, the theme of this year’s event was ‘If I were Taoiseach for a day…’.
Our speakers aged 11 to 17 addressed an audience in Leinster House on a range of topics, including homelessness, education reform, autism supports, accessibility, rural transport, female empowerment, the Irish Language and listening to children.
Child Talks 2022 was hosted by our incredible past speakers, Anjelica and Dariusz.
Schools across the country tuned in online and we were even joined by Scoil Chrónáin in Leinster House.
Check out our Child Talks 2022 speakers and activity sheets for schools here.
Child Talks 2021
This year to celebrate World Children’s Day, the Ombudsman for Children’s Office hosted Child Talks 2021, our event where children and young people up to age 18 are given a platform to talk about children’s rights and the issues that matter to them.
Our incredible speakers – Dariusz, Franny, Anjelica, Ella, Precious, Darragh, Bobby and Molly – shared their inspiring stories on topics including climate change, mental health, fast fashion, Direct Provision, gender equality, life with scoliosis, and safety on the roads. You can learn more about our speakers here.
Child Talks 2021 was hosted by our brilliant past speakers Katherine Amusan and Oisin Putt.
The hybrid event was broadcast from the RDS, Dublin on November 19th and is available to watch below.
Child Talks 2020
Child Talks 2020 was a completely online event. The Theme of the event was A Day in My Life.
Katherine (16), Charlie (8), Maria (16), Afaf (13), Emer (17), Evan (18), Cuan (10) and India (17) shared their inspiring stories on topics including cultural expression, mental health, homelessness, individuality, looking after our local environment, living with autism, and youth activism.
Child Talks 2020 was hosted by our brilliant past speakers Katie McKenna (19) and Eric Ehigie (19).
Child Talks 2019
Child Talks took place at The Printworks, Dublin Castle on World Children’s Day, Wednesday 20th November and the theme was “Your Best Self”. The opening address was delivered by the Minster for Children and Youth Affairs, Katherine Zappone.
Speakers were Lily, (12) from Dublin who talked about personal budgets; Carly (14) from Co.Laois who talked about period poverty; Amina (13) from Dodoma, a central part of Tanzania in East Africa spoke about the challenges she faces as a girl child; Oisin (17) is a wheelchair user with Spina Bifida and an athlete who talked about equity for the disabled community; Ellen (15) from Donegal who talked about climate change; Ryan (15) from Dundalk in Co. Louth who talked about his experience as a young person with a disability; Leanne (17) from Dublin who talked about her relationship with her sister who has a diagnosis of autism; Kate (16) from Wicklow who talked about her chromosomal disorder and Eric (17) from Longford who talked about why he believes that more young people from diverse backgrounds should run for election.
The Kabin Crew, a collective of young rappers and singers with GMCBeats Workshops, supported by Music Generation Cork City performed on the day.
Child Talks 2018
Child Talks was introduced for the first time in 2018. The event took place at City Hall in Dublin.
Amy (17) from Co. Sligo talked about how growing up in Ireland as a young Trans person; Aoibheann (12) from Co. Mayo talked about lack of broadband in rural Ireland; Katie (17) from Kilkenny talked about the importance of accepting difference and coming out as a young gay woman; Margaret (14) from Offaly talked about growing up in Ireland as a young Traveller; Fearghal (18) from Dublin talked his love for the creative arts and how it helped him to escape from his boredom in school; Grace (16) from Dublin explained her emotional struggles and the importance of education and Sinead (20) from Galway performed on the day.
