Changing Ireland

28/05/2026

👉 Over 500 community projects have emerged in response to violence and inequality of the largest favelas in Rio.

What he found was stark:

🏚️ Extreme poverty
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Families living in overcrowded conditions
⚠️ Children at risk from violence and “death squads”
🌱 Communities creating their own solutions

Even then, there was hope —
👉 Over 500 community projects had emerged in response to violence and inequality

💭 Fast forward to today…

Brazil has changed — but not completely

📈 Some economic progress
🏘️ Major urban development
⚠️ But inequality remains deeply rooted
⚠️ Favelas still face poverty, violence & exclusion

And once again…
👉 It’s communities doing the work on the ground

⚡ What hasn’t changed?

When systems fail,
community action steps in

💬 What can Ireland learn from community resilience like this?

📖 Explore more: www.changingireland.ie

27/05/2026

Inside Limerick Prison, education is changing lives.

During a recent visit to the prison’s education unit, Changing Ireland met prisoners studying for QQI qualifications, Open University courses, and even Gaisce Awards.

What stood out wasn’t just the artwork, ambition, or positivity — it was the belief that people can change when they are given support, dignity, and opportunity.

💬 “You learn here to look out for each other and to be kind.”

Many prisoners spoke openly about:
⚠️ loneliness
⚠️ regret
⚠️ growing up in difficult circumstances

But they also spoke about:
✨ hope
✨ education
✨ future plans

One prisoner said simply:
👉 “Not all of us are bad.”

The article also raises a major issue:
While support exists inside prison, many people are released with little follow-up support, increasing the risk of falling back into old patterns.

💭 Rehabilitation doesn’t stop at the prison gates.

📖 Read the full article here:
https://www.changingireland.ie/more-needed-on-prison-release-to-make-investment-worthwhile/

💬 What role should education and community support play in rehabilitation?

🔁 Share to challenge stereotypes and support second chances.

26/05/2026

Recently, Changing Ireland editor Allen Meagher visited the education unit inside Limerick Prison — and what stood out most was not what people might expect.

It was:
✨ The welcome
✨ The positivity
✨ The creativity
✨ The desire of prisoners to tell their own stories

Allen met dedicated learners, talented artists, and prisoners working towards qualifications, including the and Leaving Cert subjects.

One message came through clearly:
👉 Education changes lives — but support cannot stop at the prison gates.

Staff and prisoners spoke about the importance of stronger links between prisons, education providers, and communities after release, helping people continue their learning journey and build a future beyond prison.

💭 As Allen reflected:
“The prisoners just wanted to tell the story themselves — an upbeat story — and they succeeded in doing so.”

This article challenges stereotypes and reminds us that rehabilitation, dignity, and opportunity matter.

📖 Read the full article here:
https://www.changingireland.ie/the-reality-inside-limerick-prison-library/

💬 What role do you think education should play in rehabilitation and reintegration?

🔁 Share this post to support second chances and community education.

25/05/2026

That simple question inspired something bigger.
Waterford Food Bank began hearing from people — particularly older men and those living alone — who wanted to cook healthy meals but didn’t always have the confidence or skills to know where to start.

So they responded with practical support:
🍲 Easy recipe videos
📱 QR codes on food parcels
🥦 Nutritious meal ideas based on standard food parcels
🤝 A gateway to wider community supports

The videos, created with community nutritionist Maria Chester, help people turn food parcels into real family meals — from creamy porridge to chicken fried rice.

But this project is about more than recipes.

It’s also about dignity, connection, and reaching people who may be struggling quietly amid the cost-of-living crisis.

As Liam Quinn of Buíon Phort Láirge explains, many recipients are people who might never normally connect with a local development company — including dual-income families now finding themselves under pressure.

💬 Sometimes support starts with one practical question:
“What do you want me to do with that?”

📖 Read the full story here:
https://www.changingireland.ie/what-do-you-want-me-to-do-with-that/

🎥 Watch the recipe videos via

💬 What community initiative have you seen that solves a problem in a simple but powerful way?

21/05/2026

The value of community development was the strongest theme of the morning at the The Wheel's Summit in DCU, Dublin.
Hundreds of attendees heard from five inspiring social change-makers - Kiren Khalid, women’s support officer with Nasc, Sorcha Killian co-founder of the Hygiene Hub, Damian Quinn founder of Spéire Nuaire Nua, Amina Moustafa, Projects Officer with Louth Local Development, and Paula Soraghan who is a community Development worker with the Independent Living Movement Ireland.
These story-tellers were followed by Jerry Buttimer, Minister of State Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht. He spoke later to Changing Ireland with a summary message for our readers - see here. It was notable that many of the earlier speakers' projects receive support through his department.

The keynote speaker was Séamus Boland, President of the EESC - European Economic and Social Committee. He talked of the importance of civil society in democracy - which was the theme of the summit. Séamus also spoke to us afterwards on camera (more to follow).

Meanwhile, The Wheel's new CEO Pat Watt, who will take up his appointment in July, was introduced to attendees by the organisation's chairperson extraordinaire Inez Bailey.
There was more - look out for reports here online in due course and in our summer edition.

Also taking place today were the Traveller Pride Week's annual awards - we (just about) caught up with a few of the very happy winners - including Michael Reilly, Social Innovation Officer with Longford County Council. Great to see people recognised for their hard work, volunteering and innovation.

21/05/2026

More than 20 years ago, Changing Ireland featured a project in Mayo working with children to challenge prejudice early.

Young people were:
👉 Learning about racism
👉 Questioning stereotypes
👉 Building understanding from a young age

The belief was simple:
If we teach empathy early, we build a fairer society later.

💭 Fast forward to 2026…

This week, newly crowned Dublin Rose Suad Mooge spoke out after facing racist abuse online from people claiming she was “not Irish” — despite being born in Sligo.

The Rose of Tralee festival condemned the abuse, while Suad responded with dignity and strength:
💬 “This does not represent Ireland… it’s a very small, loud group of people.”

Her experience reminds us that while Ireland has changed enormously, prejudice hasn’t disappeared — it has simply found new platforms:
📱 Social media
⚠️ Online hate
🌍 Fear-driven narratives
📢 Loud misinformation

And that brings us back to the same question raised in 2003:

👉 Are we equipping young people with the tools they need to challenge prejudice, think critically, and build empathy?

Because anti-racism education isn’t just about schools.
It’s about the kind of Ireland we want to create.

📖 Explore more from the archive: www.changingireland.ie

💬 What should education around racism and belonging look like in Ireland today?

15/05/2026

"Behind the headlines, families across Ireland are quietly carrying the weight of care for loved ones with intellectual disabilities — often without enough support.

Des North, who has worked in the sector for nearly 30 years, says the system is at breaking point:

⚠️ Long waiting lists for residential care
⚠️ Families in crisis with no available places
⚠️ Parents in their 80s still providing full-time care

💡 His message is clear:

👉 We don’t just need more funding
👉 We need smarter solutions

Including:
✔ More respite homes
✔ Less red tape
✔ Policies that reflect real-life needs
✔ Flexible housing options that actually work

Because sometimes families aren’t asking for everything…they just need a break.

⚡ The reality:
With the right support, many people could stay at home longer —but without it, families are pushed to the edge.

📖 Read the full article:
https://www.changingireland.ie/solutions-des-north-says-revisit-policies-and-provide-more-respite/

💬 What changes would make the biggest difference for families?

🔁 Share this to raise awareness

15/05/2026

14/05/2026

Back in 2003, Changing Ireland highlighted something uncomfortable:
👉 Community initiatives were often misunderstood — or dismissed — by the middle classes

As one piece noted, some people saw community projects as “not for them”
Even when they could benefit most

💭 Fast forward to today…

That divide hasn’t disappeared — it’s just evolved

Who engages in community development?
Who feels it’s “for them”?
Who gets left out of the conversation?
⚡ The truth:

Community work isn’t just for those in crisis
👉 It’s for everyone

💬 Do you think there’s still a divide in who engages with community initiatives today?

📖 Explore more: www.changingireland.ie

As one piece noted, some people saw community projects as “not for them.”