Clubs, Volunteers, Projects & Networks!
An Óige is much more than cheap accommodation in Ireland! Read on to see just how...
Our Clubs
The Association has a Sunday Hiking Club, An Óige Hillwalkers Club, An Óige Cycling Club and An Óige Conservation Club.
Check out the An Óige Event Calendar to see what's up-and-coming including Digital Photography Classes, Weekly Hikes, Overseas Trips and Cycling trips.
Give Us a Break Project
We also organise a "Give Us a Break" project - sponsored by Provident Financial for primary schools. We have sent over 1500 funded young people for a school holiday with bed and board and activities too! That's a lot of happy faces with help from our partners Provident Financial!
Our Selfless Volunteers!
We have many volunteers that selflessly give hundreds of hours towards supporting An Óige, helping with running some of the hostels and their maintence to organising walks and hikes and much more. If you wish to sign up to help out, contact our office.
What's behind An Óige?
"An Óige" is Gaelige for "The Youth" which explains the main objective of An Óige which is:
To help all, but especially young people, to a love and appreciation of
the countryside, particularly by providing simple hostel accommodation
for them whilst on their travels.
An Óige is a non-profit membership
organisation founded in 1931 to
encourage youths to appreciate the Irish countryside and Irish culture through hostelling.
Now, 80 years on, we have 25 youth hostels located countrywide
providing budget, good quality accommodation for travellers just like
yourself, looking for adventure and fun. As of 2011, An Óige consists of
25 youth hostels around Ireland, with 13 of its own An Óige hostels and
12 franchise hostels of varying standards and locations around the
Republic of Ireland. Nowadays hostels range from high quality city
centre buildings with hundreds of beds to small hostels in rural
settings.
Worldwide Network of Quality Hostels
An Óige is part of a worldwide network of national organisations belonging to the International Youth Hostel Federation (IYHF). This entire network, known as Hostelling International (www.hihostels.com), offers more than 4,000 hostels in over 90 countries.
