Our project, 'The Sound of Europe: Youth Musicians at the Heart of the EU Presidency,' brings together three youth groups: Youths Against Rural Disadvantage (YARD) from West Mayo, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Brussels, and Musikpädagogik on Tour from the University of Mozarteum Salzburg. Each group will send 11 participants (32 young people in total, including one non-youth project coordinator Dr Maura Thornton/ 33 people in total) Participants, aged 18–30, will take part in a creative youth exchange linking music, culture, and democratic participation during the year of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU in 2026. The project is built around two flows: the first to Brussels in March 2026, coinciding with Seachtain na Gaeilge and St. Patrick’s Day, a time when Irish identity is celebrated worldwide; and the second to Westport, Co. Mayo in July 2026. The project’s main aim is to empower young people through music and cultural expression, while strengthening their role as active European citizens. By sharing cultural traditions and linking them to EU values and policies, participants will gain a deeper sense of European identity and solidarity. From a youth work perspective, the objectives are to: • Support intercultural dialogue by enabling young musicians to share Irish traditional, diaspora, and classical music and to perform collaboratively. • Promote participation in democratic life through the Brussels flow, which includes visits to the European Parliament, European Commission, and a performance at the Irish Embassy hosted by Ambassador Kevin Conmy and MEP Maria Walsh. • Strengthen rural inclusion by ensuring participation from West Mayo, a region with limited opportunities for young people. This includes the three disadvantaged Mayo youths and two refugee youths from Salzburg. • Develop leadership and communication skills through peer-led workshops, public performances, and group responsibility for planning and reflection. • Foster wellbeing and community spirit through music, sport, and informal evening exchanges. Young people will take the lead in designing and running informal learning sessions, documenting their experiences through digital storytelling, video diaries, and Youthpass reflections. Activities will include team-building games, cultural workshops, role-play, peer-to-peer learning, outdoor challenges, and reflection groups — ensuring that every participant contributes regardless of background or academic ability. The Brussels flow will immerse participants in Europe’s political heart. By aligning with Seachtain na Gaeilge and St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, the group will symbolically connect rural Irish voices and refugee experiences with global Irish culture and EU decision-making. Visits to EU institutions will make democracy tangible, while high-profile performances will link creativity with civic participation. The Westport flow will root European learning in Ireland’s rural periphery. Activities such as climbing Croagh Patrick, swimming in the Atlantic, and horse riding will build trust and resilience, while intercultural music workshops will culminate in a public concert celebrating European diversity through shared performance. This project addresses the EU Youth Strategy 2019–2027 and key European Youth Goals. It advances: • Goal 1 (Connecting EU with Youth) by linking music and cultural activities to Ireland’s EU Presidency. • Goal 3 (Inclusive Societies) through the participation of rural and refugee youths. • Goal 4 (Information & Constructive Dialogue) by fostering direct encounters with policymakers. • Goal 8 (Quality Learning) through peer-led non-formal methods. • Goal 9 (Space and Participation for All) by giving youths active roles in planning and delivery. • Goal 11 (Youth Organisations & European Programmes) by strengthening a sustainable European youth music network. Expected results include collaborative music performances, recordings, and digital media content that showcase Europe’s diversity and unity. Participants will gain leadership skills, confidence, and intercultural awareness, while local communities will experience the EU Presidency through accessible, youth-led events. In short, The Sound of Europe will place rural, diaspora, and refugee voices at the heart of Europe, demonstrating how music can be a powerful language of participation, inclusion, and shared European identity.