Darragh's Soapbox: Celebrating 40 years of St Brigid's
Billy O'Keeffe, Joan Quinlan, Mary O'Halloran and Jim Farnan at St. Brigid's Family and Community Centre's 40th anniversary celebrations. Photo: Joe Evans
The role of community services can't be understated, from supporting families and children to providing mental health supports.
This week, the Waterford News & Star attended the 40th anniversary celebrations of St. Brigid's Family and Community Centre.
In celebration of the work done by such facilities across Waterford, we asked locals and staff present on the day about the importance of support services.
Minister Mary Butler said that "family resource centres are extremely important all across Ireland and they do so much wonderful work that needs to be done to support families".
Mary O’Halloran, Board member and former Chairperson of St. Brigid's, and a former councillor who previously served as the first female Mayor of Waterford, added, "I feel very privileged to be involved" in St. Brigid's.
"My fellow board members are all highly committed and dedicated and we're very grateful for the support we're receiving from the community, who place their trust in St. Brigid's to provide services and programmes."
Dr. Eamon Meaney, coordinator of the counselling service at St. Brigid's, expressed the importance of the availability of mental health facilities.
"We have a fantastic team of about 17 therapists who do a huge amount of work here and they are selfless in their work, dedication and expertise. That service is immense for the community."
Chairperson of St. Brigid's Billy O'Keeffe added that the continued growth of such facilities is vital.
"One of the fantastic things that has happened in the last 12 months is that this building, which has been the property of the Sisters of Mercy since St. Brigid’s started here 40 years ago, has recently, through their generosity, been handed over to the community and St. Brigid’s family resource centre now owns this building."
