An Óige


An Óige, or the Irish Youth Hostel Association, is a non-profit organisation providing youth hostel accommodation across the Republic of Ireland. An Óige is a member of Hostelling International.

Background

An Óige was founded on 7 May 1931 by an organising committee, which included Thekla Beere, Shane Bodkin, and C.E. Terry Trench, Hon. National Secretary, as a membership based organisation and is a member of the Hostelling International. The first youth hostel was opened in 1931 in Lough Dan, near Roundwood, in County Wicklow.
As of 2017, An Óige operates 24 youth hostels in the Republic of Ireland. As of 2019 An Óige has 19 hostels left in operation.
At 4 pm on May 31st, 2019, An Oige Dublin International Youth Hostel, its headquarters, announced its sudden closure.

Objective

An Óige, the Irish Youth Hostel Association has as its charitable aims the following:
  1. 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.
  2. To foster an appreciation of the Irish cultural and historical heritage
  3. To co-operate with other organisations for the following purposes:
  4. * to preserve the beauties of the countryside.
  5. * to secure and mark rights of way and other footpaths.
  6. To co-operate with kindred associations in other countries.
  7. To take any other steps calculated to further such objectives.