Max HeyraudIn a step towards making Ireland’s night-time culture safer, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media has launched All Right All Night—a new online bystander intervention training programme aimed at young people.
The initiative, announced by Minister Patrick O’Donovan this week, offers 5,000 free one-hour online training spots for people aged 18–24. Developed by the Bystander Intervention Team at University College Cork, the programme is rooted in peer support, harm reduction, and shared responsibility.
Originally piloted in schools, youth clubs and sports teams across Ireland, the programme teaches participants how to identify unsafe or problematic behaviour on a night out, and how to intervene safely. The training focuses on empathy, understanding diverse lived experiences, and building a culture of mutual care.
“The All Right All Night training programme promotes a safer night-time environment for young people, which is a key priority of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce,” Minister O’Donovan said at the launch. “It provides young people with the tools to safely intervene or get help should anything arise when socialising at night.”
Professor Louise Crowley, who leads the programme at UCC, added: “The ability to better recognise problematic behaviour and the associated capacity to make safe and effective interventions will encourage and enable participants to contribute to an improved culture of respect and safety for all young people on nights out.”
Photo Credits: Wibez Photography
