Category: Stories from Foster Care

Stories from Foster Care is a podcast brought to you by The Irish Foster Care Association. Join host Niamh Barrett as she meets people from all walks of life who have different experiences of foster care in Ireland. Listen to Stories from Foster Care on Spotify, Apple, Nearcast or wherever you get your podcasts. Be sure to subscribe for all the latest episodes. Stories from Foster Care is produced with the Nearcast podcast network, and is made in association with the Department of Children Equality Disability Integration and Youth.

Stories from Foster Care – Lisa Clancy

In this episode of Stories from Foster Care, Andrew Murphy talks to Lisa Clancy. Lisa and her family are fostering three children with disabilities. Lisa gives a powerful insight into the ups and downs of the day-to-day experiences of fostering and she…

Stories from Foster Care – Dr. Danielle Douglas

In this episode of Stories from Foster Care, Niamh Barrett of IFCA talks to Dr Danielle Douglas. Danielle is a care-experienced academic and researcher at the South East Technological University, and a former relative foster carer who reflects on a lifetime of…

Stories from Foster Care – Catherine Joyce

On the latest episode of Stories from Foster Care Niamh Barrett talks to Catherine Joyce. For over 35 years Catherine has been a member of the Irish Traveller’s human rights movement. She’s also a theatre-maker and collaborator. She is a strong advocate…

Stories from Foster Care – Harold Barber & Michael Shannon

In this latest episode of Stories from Foster Care, Andrew Murphy talks to Harold Barber and Michael Shannon about their experiences of coming into fostering as a gay couple, and about fostering separated young people who come to Ireland as migrants. In…

Stories from Foster Care – Paul Harrison

Paul Harrison has occupied roles in the care system in Ireland for decades, ranging from working as a social worker in child protection in the Eastern Health Board to management in Tusla—Child and Family Agency. In our conversation he talked about some…

Stories from Foster Care – Ric Panza and Raymond Nolan

In this episode of Stories from Foster Care, Andrew Murphy of IFCA talks to members of the fostering community whose voices sometimes go unheard – foster fathers. Andrew talks to Ric Panza and Raymond Nolan about what drew them to fostering, how…

Stories from Foster Care – Sandra Parker

Our guest on the fourth episode of the Stories from Foster Care podcast is Sandra Parker, a foster carer who is now also working with Tusla—Child and Family Agency to train other prospective foster carers. Sandra, from Clonmel in Tipperary, is from…

Stories from Foster Care – Ayeisha McFerran

World-renowned hockey goalkeeper Ayeisha McFerran is our guest on this episode of the Stories from Foster Care podcast. Ayeisha chats to us about hockey as a source of support through the difficult years after her mother died and she came into the…

Stories from Foster Care – Justice Catherine McGuinness

Our guest on the latest episode of the Stories from Foster Care podcast is Justice Catherine McGuinness. Catherine is the patron of The Irish Foster Care Association, a retired Supreme Court judge and an advocate for the rights of children in Ireland…

Stories from Foster Care – Anne McCluskey

Our guest on this inaugural episode of the Stories from Foster Care podcast is Anne McCluskey, a foster carer and retired school principal. We talked about Anne’s journey as a foster carer, and her perspectives on supporting foster children through the education…