Bruac

“I was a Traveller girl from Labre halting site in Ballyfermot and I was involved in youth clubs from a young age. I didn’t like school and I was at risk of dropping out. My mother died before I started secondary school and then I was in a horrible accident that put me in a wheelchair for a while. I was on crutches and had lots of surgery. I was angry and I couldn’t understand why all these bad things had happened in life.

Youth club was a space I could go after school to do my homework. It was a space where I could just go and have a bar of chocolate and a cup of tay. When you’re 12 or 13, you don’t really know that you’re poor, but there’s no way I would have finished school without youth work. I never felt judged. Youth work didn’t take away my culture as a Traveller, but instead gave me the tools to live as a free young person exploring the world, because I could tell my youth worker anything and I always knew I could fall back on them.

I wouldn’t be the person I am today without the youth club. It introduced me to activism, it informed me about social change and it educated me to think for myself. It gave me my voice. It helped me to socialise, which can be tough for Travellers mixing with settled people. I made the friends I still have today. I went on to college, studying youth work at Maynooth University. Today, I’m the first Traveller ever to serve in the Seanad and I use my voice to advocate for young and marginalised people. I know the value of youth work because of the doors it opened for me and thousands of other young people.”

- Senator Eileen Flynn , sharing how youth work changed her life. Senator Flynn is the first Traveller ever to serve in the Seanad

This year, we’re celebrating International Women’s Day from home. While we’re disappointed that we can’t all meet up this year, we can still get glammed up! Find your favourite pink outfit and join us for

Here’s how you can get involved:

1. Wear pink on March 8 to show your support for the people and staff of Good Shepherd.

2. Get your family and friends involved (virtually) if you can! Share your selifes using , and tag us in your pictures!

3. Text ‘EdelHouse’ to 50300 to make a €4 donation, or visit www.idonate.ie/PinkMonday

Spring is definitely in the air and Bruac is blooming, waiting for our return! Looking forward to having tea and Bruac cake in the garden again soon.😚🐝👩

Hi Girls, I hope all is well. By now you should have got some packs in the post. In fact you probably wont have time to check this post your so busy working away!! 🐝

I'll be on the phone tomorrow to my group and maybe we'll try and get an online class going! It will be amazing! Like no class you have ever done before! You better check in to see how much fun we can have working through the Nutrition module! There may even be a prize for the most committed learner. 👩‍🎓

See you tomorrow. Charlotte ☺️☺️

Well done to Chloe for getting to round 3 of the young Scientist competition. First learner ever from Bruac to enter! 👏👏

Hi Girls, Happy new year to you all. We hope you had a safe and happy holiday.

Bruac will re-open next Monday the 11th of January. We will be in touch in the next week with class times and further details. Take care for now. Charlotte

Christmas time in Bruac and it's cakes all around. Baking at a distance is still fun!!!

It's all business in Bruac making Face masks to keep us safe at work!m

Hi Girls,

I hope everyone is doing well? Sorry I haven't been in touch in a while. I was in the wild west Cork and reception is not great. But not to worry I have been saving up all my chat and looking forward to catching up in a few weeks time!! Mind yourselves for now and send in any pictures of interesting things you have been doing!

The Same but different!!
Hi girls! I hope you are all doing well – time is flying by, July already. It won’t be long now till we are back in Bruac at the end of August. Enjoy the days while you have the freedom! Get outside!!

Meanwhile I thought I’d share a story with you about my tomato plants!!

2 plants grown, planted from seed on the same day, with the same compost, watered the same way, put in the same warm sunny spot, talked to the same way! (Ok, I only spoke to them sometimes if the kids were out!!), feed the same way.

And what do we get?

The same but different!

Both are blooming – but one had lots of tomatoes and one had none!!

And while at first I was disappointed with the plant that bore no fruit! I soon realised that it had a purpose too. It has the greenest leaves and long stems and makes a lovely decorative plant in my sitting room!

We all have something to offer!

Larrisa has been busy in the garden! Seeds burst to life!!

Well done Larrisa!

Bruac in full bloom, waiting to welcome us all back in the near future 💁

Something nice to aim for.....

Something to do if you have children in the house!

Hi Girls, how are you all doing this week? I haven't heard much from you. Have you been doing the worksheets? How are the seeds that Mary sent coming along. Send me some pictures. Com'on you know how I love to talk and all this quiet doesn't suit me!!

HI Girls, Another week down. We hope you are all doing well. Enjoy the weekend and let me know next week what healthy and happy things you did.

Larissa got off to a good start with making this beautiful "Sleeping Beauty" cake ! Well done and thanks for sharing the picture...only I'd have preferred a share of the cake!!😉😉

Amazing Cake - Created by Terca and Constanta for their sister's birthday. How I'd love a slice!!

Hi Girls, the picture attached tells you how to get cheaper data on your mobile. Basically if you are using your data a lot because you are contacting Bruac you can get it at a better price till June 30th. Read the picture. You need to contact your service provider ( the people you pay your bill too.) You can contact them on web text/chat). Get back to me if you are stuck. Charlotte

Love it!!

Hi Girls, I hope you enjoyed painting your pottery. Chloe and Kyira sent me a picture of theirs.

Well Done Larrisa!!

Look what Larrisa baked! Delicious, I can't wait for us to try that recipe with morning coffee when we get back to Bruac.

Its a cheese cake !

...but a little spill over! Still tasted nice! Send me some pictures of what you guys did!
I might send a prize to the winner!

New photo by Rostellan Abu

HI Girls! I hope you are all doing well? Let me know what you have been doing. I tried a few new recipes.

Started well!

New photo by Rostellan Abu

Remember girls Jigsaw is there for you if you want to talk.
Some quick FREE contact details are :

·1800 JIGSAW (544729) Hours: Mon to Fri 1pm- 5pm.

Text 086 180 3880. Hours: Mon to Fri 9am to 5pm.

Email [email protected].

Jigsaw Cork Our mission is to advance the mental health of young people in Ireland (aged 12-25) by influencing change, strengthening communities, and delivering services through our evidence informed and early intervention approach.
Charity Number CHY 17439.

HI Girls!

How is the writing going? Hmm! I can taste the pizza - Pepperoni!!

If you decide that you are typing yours then send your story to Lorraine's email at [email protected]

But remember it is also fine to hand write it, take a picture and send it through whats app to the Bruac mobile.

Message me here on faceback to let me know you have got started...or if you need a few tips. Ye keep telling me I talk a lot!!

Séideán Sí

🖊🖊🖊🖊

Hi Girls! Another Friday and we have a different type of activity. Get your writing hat on! We want your stories. It is competition time We will get a pizza meal delivered to the house of the winning author next week!! 🍕🍕

Choose from on of the following titles
1) My life at home during Covid 19 "
2) Covid, my new life!
3) What Covid means for me
4) Corona and me, not the beer, not the band!

Write at least an A4 page, but make it 10 if you want! I'm out of good books at the moment!

Send your entries to the email address you got from Bruac if you want to type it. Or simply write it out, photograph your pages and send them to the Bruac mobile via whats app.

All entries must be in for 12 midday next Thursday 30th of April and Lorraine and Ger will choose the winner Friday morning.

Get writing ladies!! And what a lovely way to start the Summer next Friday, Author of month, eating yummy pizza! It could be you!! 👏

Hi Girls, hope you are all doing well. You should have got a text from the Bruac mobile asking for you to send your email address. This is very important as we need to be able to send information to learners while the Bruac is closed. So if you have not replied to Lorraine on the mobile, hop to it!! ⌨️🖥

Bruac updated their business hours.

A friend sent this my way.... And I'm sending it to you!

Hi Girls, I hope you get some Easter treats. We are all saying "hello" from a distance!!

We are thinking of you all - and you can get in touch anytime. Here's a little video Claire made to remind everyone.