The National Youth Forum of the Irish Red Cross saw hundreds of young people, aged from 5 - 17 years who are members of the Irish Red Cross, gathering to celebrate the birthday of the Red Cross in Ireland and plan for the future involvement of more young people in the organisation.

Congratulating the young people, President McAleese, who is by virtue of her office President of the Irish Red Cross, said they were special because they look for ways to solve problems.

"Here are the people who are prepared to make themselves uncomfortable by going out to meetings, training and fundraising because they care.

"You are the kids who care enough to get up and do something," said President McAleese.

Changing faces! Clodagh Byrne (10) from Cobh and Joe Millar of Dublin, look back at the Irish Red Cross in its youth. Joe joined the Irish Red Cross just over ten years after its formation in 1939 and has carefully stockpiled mementos of the organisation's history.

The President also singled-out the Irish Red Cross longest-serving member who was present, Joe Millar who has been a volunteer with the Irish Red Cross since 1951.

Addressing Mr Millar from the podium to the packed throng of teenagers and younger children, President McAleese invited Mr Millar to tell her why he joined the Irish Red Cross, to which the proud septuagenarian replied: "Because I wanted to give something back to my community and I wanted to learn something - and I have."

Taking-up the point, President McAleese said Joe's commitment for the last 58 years would inspire many generations of Red Cross Youth members to come.

"Right around the world, anywhere that symbol is seen, everybody know that when they see the Red Cross it means that there is someone who cares who is coming to their aid."

Thanking the President, on behalf of the Irish Red Cross, the Chairman David Andrews said the organisation had "flourished under her patronage."

The Chairman of the Irish Red Cross Youth Working Group which organized the event on Saturday, Darren Ryan said it was an honour to have the President present at the gathering "We are delighted that the President is joining us for this very special youth event in our 70th Year."

Noting the rising numbers of young people who are joining the Irish Red Cross, Mr Ryan urged them to "be at the forefront of change"

Young people, Mr Ryan noted, are joining the Irish Red Cross in greater and greater numbers, with a large increase in youth membership this year on last year. Seven-year-old Aisling Middleton from Mountrath, Co. Laois presented the floral tribute to the President who disclosed that Aisling had replied emphatically when asked if the red and white outfit was a tribute to the colours of Cork, to the contrary - they were the colours of the Red Cross.

Aisling Devlin (9) Cobh, centre together with Kathlyn McFeeley (10), Co. Donegal, and Aaron Middleton, (10), Co. Laois who showed their work on the specially-produced "humanity" patchwork quilt to President McAleese.

Earlier, the President viewed stands displaying a variety of youth activities and interests. Among the young people present, President McAleese met Aisling Devlin (9) from Cobh who showed her the patchwork quilt created by the youngsters that morning on the theme of "Humanity".

The President also met a large contingent of young people who had travelled from Muff, Co. Donegal for the day. They welcomed the President to the event through signing - and were thrilled when the President signed back to them that she was delighted to be there.

The group learned how to sign as part of their OPTIONS programme. This programme run by the Irish Red Cross provides eight different categories in which young people can excel, such as community work, environmental awareness and outdoor pursuits.

Youth Working Group Chairman, Darren Ryan outlined to President McAleese that the purpose of OPTIONS is to encourage young people to develop their interests and skills by incentivising them with a recognisable system of awards. In this way the OPTIONS programme supports very much the aims of the President's award scheme - Gaisce and both schemes will be developed to provide mutual recognition after Christmas.

"A perfect partnership," smiled President McAleese, who described the relationship between the two awards schemes as "a marriage made in heaven". Later the President told the assembled young people that she was "looking forward to presenting gold Gaisce medals to many people in Red Cross uniforms."

For further information contact: Aoife MacEoin. National Communications Officer. 087 - 998 3788.

Notes to the editor

• Interviews with Irish Red Cross spokespeople can be arranged in advance or on the day
• Online resources will be available at www.redcross.ie
• Irish Red Cross on Facebook, Flikr and YouTube
• Additional background notes are provided below

Irish Red Cross: National Youth Forum Facts & Figures

1. The Irish Red Cross celebrates 70 years of history this year. This is also the year that marks the 150th anniversary of the battle that inspired the international foundation of the first Red Cross in Switzerland and subsequently the first-ever rules of war - the Geneva Conventions. The Conventions were subsequently updated after WW II and this year also marks the 60th anniversary of that.
2. The National Youth Forum sees young people - aged from 5 upwards - attend a conference that will consider - in an age-appropriate way - serious current issues such as what "humanity" means to them, the impact of our increasingly multi-cultural and diverse society, issues that affect people living with HIV/AIDS and what an organisation like the Red Cross has, and can, achieve to improve society.
3. The Irish Red Cross has branches in every county in Ireland, some 145 in total amounting to some 6000 members. New members are always welcome.
4. Young people who join the Irish Red Cross can be active members of their own communities in the knowledge that they are part of a wider global force for good - the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement which has 97 million members working to improve the lives of people in 186 countries around the world.
5. The first time the Nobel Peace Prize was ever awarded, it went to the founder of the Red Cross, Henry Dunant in 1901 who pioneered the care of wounded soldiers from all sides on the battlefield of Solferino, Italy. The organisation has since been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on a further three occasions, making it the single-biggest recipient of the award.
6. The Irish Red Cross has directly associated with some of the most illustrious faces of national and international history and will host a synopsis of this at the forum. These people include film stars Audrey Hepburn who was helped by the Irish Red Cross and Princess Grace of Monaco who visited Irish Red Cross projects with children on her state visit to Ireland as well as writers, Neville Shute (A Town Called Alice) and Samuel Beckett who volunteered for the Irish Red Cross.
7. Caring for children at home and overseas has always been at the heart of Irish Red Cross activity. Here in Ireland, the Irish Red Cross set up specialist TB prevention units. Overseas it organised a rescue-mission of German children after WWII under its famous Operation Shamrock. Internationally, the Irish Red Cross directly funds services to AIDS orphans and other vulnerable children in Africa (Malawi) and also, through its association with the International Committee of the Red Cross, supports many activities to protect children caught up in wars.