Donations

We would be very grateful for any donation no matter how small as every little will help to go a long way in providing a crucial response to drug use and homelessness.

Yoga with Estelle for all levels every Tuesday 11am-1pm

Holistic room in Drug Team

Dynamic storytelling workshops                                                                                                                        Boat around Dublin Bay in the Rynn Voyager

Memory and loss of loved ones facilitated by Barbara Bergin                                                                 Thursday 25th Oct 2018 @ 10am

Starts wednesday 21st Nov 11am-1pm                                                                                                               If interested contact

Holistic room in Drug Team                                                                                                                                    Drug Team

In 2017 we in Donore Community Drug & Alcohol Team (DCDAT) began a Creative Writing Class. Facilitated by Barbara Bergin, it involved six people who use our service from St Theresa’s Gardens. What became clear after a while was that the participants were less interested in actual writing stuff but in telling stories. Through a carful and safe path Barbara guided them down a treasure of memories, some good and some not so good. What resulted is a well-crafted, insightful edited audio piece entitled “Our Domain”
The piece depicts, often heart-warming stories of growing up and living in St. Theresa’s Gardens, the wonderful neighbours, the fun and games, the solidarity that a community, with very little in the way of financial resources, rallied together, looked out for one another with the proverbial key in the door and the kettle always on.
There are also tales of the many challenges faced, including the devastating effects the onset of heroin had in the early eighties and continues to have. Today while the area undergoes a regeneration of sorts new challenges arise. Problem drug-use has evolved to hit new generations in new ways. With poly-drug use prevalent this new generation choose to get out of it on weed, cocaine and benzos, throw in alcohol, drug-dealing and anti-social behaviours and we see the challenges mount. D.C.D.A.T. are up to meeting those challenges with a range of new and diverse programmes being implemented aimed at reducing the harm to the individuals involved, their families and indeed the wider community.
Throughout the interviews the participants share with us their highs and lows through happy times and sad but overall what we get is the resilience and courage, the laughter and the tears but most of all the beauty of humanity that thrives no matter what the obstacles put in our way.
The slide show that accompanies the audio tape are photographs taken throughout the complex over the last 15 years, by Gerry Balfe Smyth. We are eternally grateful for his permission for us to use these beautiful images.
DCDAT wish to thank Gerry for his wonderful photographs. Barbara Bergin for her skill and technique in bringing this piece to fruition and for her ability to encourage those involved to find their voice.
Most of all we want to thank those who participated in the interviews, who were courageous, funny and honest but most of all generous in sharing with us a slice of their lives growing up in the community they loved, Saint Theresa’s Gardens: