President’s visit a fitting tribute to Hub 21’s remarkable journey

Hub 21 in Carrickmacross received a very special belated birthday present on Monday when President of Ireland Catherine Connolly met the children, families, staff, volunteers and founders who have helped build the organisation into a vital support service for 140 families across Monaghan, Cavan, Louth and Meath.

President Connolly was joined by her husband Brian McEnery for the visit to the premises at C: TEK-1 and heard of the centre’s success over the last eight years.

The visit came just months after President Connolly was invited to launch Hub 21’s Grow, Thrive, Shine exhibition. Although she was unable to attend at the time, the invitation was retained by Áras an Uachtaráin and, to the delight of everyone involved, representatives later contacted the centre to arrange a visit. The exhibition was on display during Monday’s event, allowing the President to view the work she had originally been invited to launch.

While the media were not afforded an opportunity to interview President Connolly, families praised the time she spent meeting children, parents, volunteers and board members.

For parent Jane La Roux, whose daughter Sahara (14) has attended Hub 21 since childhood, what stood out most was the President’s willingness to listen: “I talked about school transport with Sahara, the difficulties we have. I just loved how she listened.” Ms La Roux described the President as “very friendly and accommodating”.

She also spoke proudly about Sahara’s involvement in Samhradh na gCruití, which takes to the stage at the Garage Theatre, Monaghan, on November 7. The achievement is particularly significant because Sahara is exempt from studying Irish at school: “She goes to the Royal School in Cavan, mainstream, and she’s flying.”

Among those reflecting on Hub 21’s growth was founding parent Eva Pepper from Cootehill, whose daughter Mia (14) was one of the first children involved with the organisation, formerly the Down Syndrome Centre North East.

“I’ve been involved since the very first meeting. At that stage it was about 10 or 12 parents from around the area coming together. We started fundraising before we ever had a centre,” she recalled.

Looking back on the organisation’s development, Eva said the scale of its growth remains remarkable: “The first calendar had 12 kids and now at this stage there’s five on every page because you’re trying to fit them all in. Look at us now, it’s great.”

President Connolly equally impressed her: “She was very nice, down to earth, very interested. She had a word with all the kids. There was no hurry either. We weren’t expecting her to… she sat and had a cup of tea.”

Adding to the excitement was the secrecy surrounding the occasion: “Initially, we were told of a VIP and it would be worth it. We were told not to say anything.”

Nonetheless, Mia insisted on knowing why she was being collected early from school!

Parent and board member Kathryn O’Reilly said the visit provided an opportunity to highlight the impact Hub 21 has on families throughout the region.

“Today’s visit was amazing. It was wonderful to meet Catherine Connolly and for her to meet all the wonderful staff, parents and the children themselves - to hear about the centre and the wonderful work that everyone here does.”

Kathryn regularly travels from Dunleer with her five-year-old daughter Claudia to attend weekly early intervention classes and said the support available at Hub 21 has transformed their family’s experience.

“It has been a lifeline for us. When my child Claudia (5) was born, this facility helped her. We would be absolutely lost without the centre.”

Kathryn also believes the recent rebrand from Down Syndrome Centre North East to Hub 21 has been a success: “My daughter can say it. It’s a bit less of a mouthful. A hub is a place of activity and community.”

Hub 21 manager Caitríona Crosby described the visit as a fitting way to celebrate the centre’s eighth anniversary: “We’re so honoured that President Connolly took so much time, care and attention to meet families and service users. We originally invited her to our exhibition back in March and she actually kept the invitation on file and they contacted us.”

Hub 21 is run by a core team of three part-time staff members, Caitríona Crosby, Service Coordinator Denise Marron and Support Worker Rebecca Treanor, backed by a voluntary board of management and a network of facilitators and therapists delivering services and therapies.

Caitríona said one of the most important milestones in the centre’s history was reached in July when HSE funding was secured for key therapies, easing the financial burden on families: “Anything that is now funded by the HSE is absolutely free.” Occupational therapy fees have also been waived during the current funding programme to ensure no child is left behind.

Reflecting on the day, she said: “Eight years ago I don’t think any of the families would have thought that the President would be coming for tea - and she did.”