An ambitious young Donegal student got a taste of life as Taoiseach when he won the opportunity to shadow Leo Varadkar for a day.
Charles John Gallagher from Dunfanaghy, who plans to be Taoiseach himself one day, was in Dublin on Friday for a packed programme of political engagements with Mr Varadkar.
Meeting Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Charles Michel, President of the European Council, were just some of the highlights of Charles’ Taoiseach takeover.
The 18-year-old PCC Falcarragh student stepped into Varadkar’s shoes after winning a #KidsTakeOver competition run by UNICEF ahead of World Children’s Day on 20th November.
A normal Friday would see the Leaving Cert student in school, but Charles got to spend the day attending the British Irish Council at Farmleigh House in Dublin and meeting high-level politicians before travelling to Government Buildings to see the inner workings of the Taoiseach’s office.
Charles shares his views with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar
An Taoiseach and Charles Michel with Charlie Gallagher
Charles also had a private meeting with An Taoiseach to address issues around young people’s well-being in school. Charlies told Mr Varadkar how he believes that making changes in education would make a big difference in many areas, like global education, mental health and political and societal knowledge.
Charles also appeared in Varadkar’s weekly social media video, in which the Fine Gael leader said: “Keep an eye on this guy, there is a future Minister or Taoiseach here”.
https://twitter.com/LeoVaradkar/status/1195383735497248768
Looking back on the day, Charles said the experience was “surreal” as he has a strong passion for politics. He cites Brexit as the main reason why he got into politics and greatly valued the opportunity he got to speak with Nicola Sturgeon on the matter, along with her own aspirations for Scotland.
Charles John Gallagher and Nicola Sturgeon
Charles also met Minister for Health Simon Harris, who is one of the politicans he looks up to. Charles made sure he got his message across during this meeting also, saying: “I talked to him about mental health and the urban/rural divide that can contribute to a negative mental health impact. He totally agreed with me and understood where I was coming from.”
Minister Simon Harris and Charles John Gallagher
On his private discussions with An Taoiseach, Charles said: “I talked to the Taoiseach about Mental Health, Global Education and the importance CSPE is to young people so they understand the problems that are going on in our country and world, as if not made aware can also have a negative impact on their mental health.
“The Taoiseach completely understood where I was coming from on these issues as a young person and as a member of a very rural part of Ireland, I made all these points and more to him in our general conversation.”
Charles admires a Michael Collins portrait in the Taoiseach’s office
The aspiring politican said he gained some valuable inspiration from his day as a young Taoiseach: “My overall experience is that it was an amazing experience and I would recommend anyone that has an interested in Children/Human Rights or politics to go for it in 2020 and it just goes to show no matter what part of Ireland that you’re from even if that’s the most rural parts of the coasts like me it’s still possible,” Charles said.
In shadowing the Taoiseach last Friday, Charles became part of an important youth-led project, according to UNICEF Ireland Executive Director Peter Power.
Mr Power said: “UNICEF believes in the child’s right to be heard, and to participate. We are delighted to facilitate a young person to engage with the leader of the country for the third year in a row. In doing so, Charles becomes part of a proud tradition of UNICEF youth activism.”
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