Our Trip Down Memory Lane this month brings us to Ballindeasig, Co Cork and the establishment of Tabor Lodge. This article was first published in Mercy Live newspaper in June 2004. The author of this article, Margaret Kiely still continues her ministries in Cork. Sr. Rose Keane also still ministers in Blarney, Co Cork. For more information about Tabor Lodge, please click here.
History of Mercy Addiction Services in Cork
The First General Chapter of the Mercy Sisters, Cork and Ross Diocese in 1984 decided to set up a residential addiction treatment centre, catering for the needs of the less well off in the Cork area.
One of the major changes in my life took place 1986, when I was asked to leave the security of the Mercy Hospital and my work as a Nurse Tutor and set up this centre in St. Mary’s Convent, Ballindeasig, Co Cork. This convent was the holiday house for the Sisters of Mercy in the Cork area and letting go of it caused a lot of sadness among the Sisters who had many happy memories of time spent there.
I trained as an Addiction Counsellor at the Hazelden Foundation in Minnesota, USA. During that time the convent was refurbished and renamed Tabor Lodge.
Tabor Lodge
This project was a leap in faith as there was no funding available at the time. However, the Congregation trusted in Divine Providence and today, fifteen years later, Tabor Lodge has accommodation for 18 residents, on a 28-day programme and is now receiving private and public funding. To date nearly 3,000 people have availed of treatment.
“Like all beginnings, it was hard work fundraising, networking, training staff, establishing programmes and using the media to promote this new service”
Tabor Lodge would not have been possible without the support of the Congregation and in particular Sr. Rose Keane, the late Sr. Austin O’Connell and the late Fr. Vincent O’Neill SMA.
It was humbling to be part of the healing process of Tabor Lodge – seeing people turning to God in their powerlessness, sharing their vulnerability, resolving family conflicts and making huge lifestyle changes.
Within a few years, the house was full to overflowing and a new extension was built at a cost of £600,000 and opened in 1995. That same year, we published our first newsletter entitled ‘Tabor Times’, which kept the centre in touch with its friends and supporters.
The need for half-way houses for young addicts, who were homeless, unemployed, lacked skills and had multiple addictions, was evident from the beginning. Our dream was fulfilled when we opened Renewal Women’s Residence in Shanakiel, Cork in 1999 and Fellowship House for men on Spur Hill, Cork in 2002. Each house accommodates 10 residents. The length of stay is 3 months. Residents work on a FAS Training Programme for 20 hours and have counselling and education in the afternoons. As an extension to the Renewal programme, we purchased another house in the area where those needing independent living are accommodated, for a further 6 months. Each centre has its own administrator who is accountable to the Board of Management.
Margaret Kiely
Many of our former residents are now in a position to help others who are struggling to overcome their addictions. My prayer is that Tabor Lodge and its extended services, will always be seen as an oasis of healing and hope where people can regain their dignity and respect.
Margaret Kiely
Southern Province
