Longford St Christopher's service users pay visit to Dáil

Service users of St Christopher's assembled in the car park of the Battery Road facility last week as they prepared for a visit to the seat of the Irish government. The day trip to the Kildare Street parliament was arranged by local Fianna Fáil Cllr Uruemu Adejinmi.

St Christopher's provides services to Adults and Children with Intellectual Disabilities in County Longford including day, residential and respite care.
Cllr Adejinmi explained how the Dáil visit came about: “A couple of months ago I was invited to meet with staff and service users of the ACE Unit in St Christopher's. We had a questions and answers session. In my role as a councillor I asked if there were any issues I could highlight.

Staff and service users from St Christopher's prepare for the trip to Dublin: Lorraine Farrar, Safia Hamal, Carmel Farrell, John Kyle, Aidan Loughland, Aoife Paland, Kevin Hegarty, Mirial Delaney, Fiona McLoughlin, Fiona Devine, Christian Dann and Annmarie Courtney

“A number of issues were raised, but a few people expressed a desire to visit Leinster House and meet the then Taoiseach Michael Martin. I contacted Deputy Joe Flaherty and he was delighted to make the arrangements. Today is the day and everyone is very excited about the trip.”

Lorraine Farrar, supervisor in St Christopher's said there was great excitement about the trip: “It's a great day and we have been looking forward to it for a while. Uruemu met with the service users in the ACE unit (Achievement, Choice and Evolution) and she told them about her work as a councillor.

In the course of that meeting they mentioned wanting to visit the Dáil. We have to thank Uruemu and Deputy Flaherty for making the arrangements.”