Waterford teen impresses at international politics conference

The launch of Darragh Dempsey’s book, ‘The Serpent's Hiss', is not the most exciting thing that has happened to him in the last year.

Although, he is quick to tell me that since he announced he was publishing a book on Instagram, “it was a real whirlwind. I remember it going out and seeing it up on Amazon. And I was like, wow, this was all I wanted for about a year. And then when I got a physical copy, I was blown away.” Darragh, who is from Kilcohan, wrote the anthology of poems because, “ending my secondary school life, I almost felt I lost who I was for a while, I turned to poetry as a way to understand that side of myself.” 

But when I spoke Darragh through a screen from his college dorm in DCU, where he now studies English and History, what he really wanted to talk about was politics.

He had recently spent the past nine days in Málaga at the European Youth Parliament.

This followed his speaking at the Dáil about drug issues across Europe.

In Málaga, there were over 300 young people from 32 countries, with nine Irish delegates.

Darragh’s committee focused on Regional and Minority Languages and after days of research and debate, their resolution passed with 158 votes in favour and just 30 votes against. 

That means their resolution will be sent to the European Parliament.

Ever the surprise, Darragh said he did not intend to go into politics in the future. 

He said: “I love it a bit too much.” 

Instead, Darragh hopes to be a teacher. 

He said: “Teachers have always been stand-out role models for me, ever since I was young. They're first an adult that you trust and you can go out, they're here to help and that way. So I think to be that person that somebody can feel that they can go to, whether it's for a friendly hello or whether it's something more serious.” 

The News & Star would like to wish the best of luck to Darragh with all his future endeavours!