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!