I grew up in Coventry with Irish parents and later moved to Canterbury where I spent 28 years with L’Arche, an international federation of faith-based communities that support adults with learning disabilities. Having decided that I needed a new challenge I was happy to be offered the CEO post for the Irish Chaplaincy. I began in January 2017 and am grateful to be part of an organization that seems so closely attuned with my own values and background. I am married to Yim Soon who I met in L’Arche and we have three grown up but still lovely children.

Irish Chaplaincy Administrator since July 2010. Juggler supreme, supporting staff and volunteers for ICPO, Seniors, Travellers and General outreach. Obsessions: databases and keeping important information and in the most productive place.
Golden rule – avoid duplicating anything.
Greatest fault: All round nice guy and IT geek, so my name seems to be the most shouted in the Chaplaincy.
I’ve been an emigrant since late 1990. I think the staff and volunteers of the Irish Chaplaincy provide support especially when the going gets tough. Every family should be very relieved and delighted to know this support is available for their vulnerable loved ones.

Works closely with organisations and prison departments caring for the welfare of Irish prisoners and their families. She visits Irish nationals/Travellers on the wings, providing advice and information on various issues including: deportation, repatriation and returning to Ireland while on licence.

Breda has received various nominations and awards, including: a, Liberty and Britain and Ireland Human Rights Project - of which she was a patron - nomination, for a Reebok Human Rights Award; a ‘Civil Liberties Award’, commemorating the late Martin Ennals, former Secretary General of Amnesty International and an Irish Post Community Award, accepted on behalf of those working for relatives of prisoners, who serve the sentence also.

As senior caseworker, my job is to process all the follow-up casework from prison visits throughout the country. This involves inputing prison visit information on to the database, answering letters, phone calls, providing prisoners and their families with the relevant advice/information relating to their inquiries, etc. Indeed, letters and phone calls are my daily diet of work. I find the work challenging, rewarding and stimulating. Just being able to advise and help people and let them know that we are there for them and their loved ones in prison is what makes the work worthwhile for me.

My official title is Project Manager of the ICPO, which means that I oversee prison visits and the follow-up casework throughout England and Wales. We have a fulltime prison visitor/caseworker for the London prisons and a volunteer for the northwest, which leaves the rest of the country for me! As the only priest now working in the Chaplaincy, I also provide pastoral care for the Travellers and Elderly Irish. Being able to help and support the three most vulnerable groups in the Irish community is what motivates me. The Gospel imperative to serve is what makes sense of the work we do here.

I am Project Officer in the Traveller Equality Project. I started with the Irish Chaplaincy in 2011 as a volunteer, and I have been a full time employee since 2014.

I have a passion to meet new people, listen to them and share with them. I meet people from all walks of life in this role, I learn on a daily basis, but most importantly, I offer understanding to those who may have never had a listening ear.

Despite often difficult circumstances, many Traveller groups I visit are alive with spirit, culture and humour, which drives me to continue the work I do. Similarly the Chaplaincy is a positive place to work, in light of the sometimes dire situations we are dealing with. We inspire each other to continue, share good news stories, and offer support when needed.

Without the people I serve, and the other members of the Chaplaincy, my job would be much more difficult.

With Liverpool Irish roots, I have been at the Chaplaincy since 2009. As manager of the Irish Chaplaincy Seniors I co-ordinate our outreach service to over hundred isolated older Irish people across London. We are there to ensure that these vulnerable older people are not forgotten, that their voices are heard, and that they receive the support and help they need to improve and enrich their lives. It is inspiring to work alongside these older Irish, whose experiences can be very hard and difficult, yet who also display great perseverance and courage in managing their everyday lives.

Volunteering
Around once a month, when someone at work asks me on a Monday morning, ‘what did you get up to at the weekend?’, I usually reply ‘not much - went out for a drink on Friday, watched football on Saturday, and on Sunday, visited a lady that I go and see once a month.’
It strikes me that the way I describe volunteering as part of the Irish Chaplaincy’s Seniors Project really under-sells what we do. I should be saying, ‘I volunteer as part of the Irish Chaplaincy’s Seniors Project and visit an Irish lady for a cup of tea and a good chat.’
I began volunteering with the Chaplaincy about two years ago; I’d heard about the Seniors Project and its visiting scheme from someone I worked with, who had been doing it for a couple of years himself. I thought of my parents, and thought if either of them were on their own and I wasn’t around – it was something that I thought I’d like someone to do for them if I lived too far away.
It isn’t one-way traffic though – this isn’t something where I, the volunteer, am the person giving something – speaking to the lady that I go and see, let’s call her…Bridget…often gives me a different perspective on the way I think about something – I find the visits quite relaxing, and sometimes it’s just great to have a chat.
It’s also much less of a chore than I might have expected it to be; I usually head to Bridget’s place for around 11am on a Sunday; it takes me an hour if I choose the leisurely bus route, and this gives me time to think about the week I’ve had, and to wonder how Bridget has been in the last couple of weeks. In truth, it gets me up and out of bed on a Sunday morning when otherwise, I’d likely be on the sofa watching Frasier re-runs and feeling bad for having done nothing with the day.
In terms of what I can offer Bridget, I’m there as someone to talk to; someone to try and assist if she has an issue with her flat; someone to post a letter; someone who occasionally does a bit of hoovering for her.
I think we should be proud of what we can offer and we shouldn’t be shy in telling the world about it. As with a lot of things though, time and money isn’t really on our side, which is why we need to get people volunteering and to harness the skills that our volunteers have to make the Project more successful.

Sr. Moira Keane, a Sister of Mercy and originally from Co. Galway, is one of our volunteers in the ICPO / Prison Outreach. Eddie Gilmore asked her about how she first got involved with prisoners.

“While studying at All Hallows, Dublin, I was privileged to do a ‘pastoral placement ‘ at Mountjoy’s Women’s prison. Whilst there I accompanied some of the female prisoners on family home visits. This was followed by working as a prison chaplain for twelve years in the north east of England. I loved this ministry but my favorite prison story is about a lovely lady called Annie, a Traveller, who having been extradited from an English prison longed to visit her family in Cork. The then governor, John Lonergan, sure that Annie would never be seen again, hesitated to let her out for the day. I pleaded on her behalf and permission was granted. On the 17th March we both headed off by train to Cork. At the end of a very emotional day we not only returned on time to Mountjoy but we also brought The Governor some chocolate and a thank you card! Mr. Lonergan used this story at a later lecture when speaking about risk- taking and trusting in the goodness of people.
When I retired from full time work in Acklington and Castington prisons I came to Essex. Aware that I had time to spare, and knowing some of the chaplains at the London office, I was invited to help with their heavy work load. I was made very welcome and I enjoy my time here”.
EG: “What do you do at the Chaplaincy”?
MK: “The prisoners have a direct line to the Prison Outreach Office and sometimes that is
the only contact they have with the outside world. I answer the telephone and direct their calls to the appropriate person if I am unable to address their issues. I also help with whatever administration needs to be done and I go on prison visits occasionally.”
EG: “What do you think the ongoing needs are in the Prison Outreach?”
MK: “Staff are doing admirable work at the office. More staff and volunteers are needed, especially people with experience of prison visiting and computer skills. There are hundreds of Irish prisoners on our books: some are doing life sentences, others who are unable to cope die by suicide. The staff deal with issues of discrimination, bullying, advice, finance appeals; and their families also need support.”
EG: “What do you like most about volunteering?”
MK: “I like the contact with the prisoners and their families. It is good to be able to trace and support the father, mother, son or daughter incarcerated in this dreadful prison system and their distraught families. I also like being able to support the staff with their heavy work load.”
EG: “Thanks Moira, it’s great to have you at the Irish Chaplaincy.”
MK: “Thank you. It is good to have the opportunity to help and to respond to the Lord.
He said ‘I was in prison and you visited Me…”
(Annie is a pseudonym)