Humans of CLDC
The “Humans of CLDC” campaign aims to highlight and appreciate the people behind the work we do at CLDC. It is our staff who make us special, and good at what we do. Below, you can see some of the members of our staff who make it all happen!
Each staff member had the same five questions to answer. They are listed in randomised order. We have over 100 staff members; this shows only a small portion, and is updated weekly. We hope you enjoy getting to know the people who are such an important part of our team!
1. What is something you find inspiring or joyful?
“Travelling, the ocean (swimming or just chilling at a beach), out in nature (gardening and walking/climbing mountains) and having fun with my family and friends.”
2. What is one thing that you find scary, hard, annoying, or challenging?
“Balancing your emotions and finding ways to overcome life’s challenges.”
3. What is one superpower you have?
“I’d like to think I’m an uplifter!! Positive and enjoy having fun and a good laugh.”
4. What is one way you are hoping to grow in the next year?
“I’m going to do a beekeeping course this spring and hopefully start keeping a hive or two and get some delicious honey.”
5. What is one reason you love your job?
“I love the people I work with, especially my colleagues, and also the people we support with starting a business or empowering them to learn new skills to find a job or change careers.”
JANAKI SUNDAR is our Finance Administrator, so she is an essential part of our small finance team that keeps us in business!
1. What is something you find inspiring or joyful?
“Travel and My Kids.“
2. What is one thing that you find scary, hard, annoying, or challenging?
“My kids are sometimes scary, annoying…and I want to overcome the hard and worst situations in my life.”
3. What is one superpower you have?
“I have no superpower. But I always believe in God.”
4. What is one way you are hoping to grow in the next year?
“Taking care of myself…”
5. What is one reason you love your job?
“I love to work in Finance… I just love numbers…”
1. What is something you find inspiring or joyful?
“Travel, I enjoy experiencing new adventures. Encouraging others; a lot of my background comes from teaching, having someone develop in confidence brings me so much Joy. I love to see people’s work pay off through success, I can be quite a motivated person and I think part of that comes from the people I have around me.”
2. What is one thing that you find scary, hard, annoying, or challenging?
“Returning to college, although I know it will great for my profession, I would be lying if I didn’t say its going to be challenge and scary at times. Annoying for me currently is this weather!”
3. What is one superpower you have?
“I am a very supportive person and I think from that I have a great group of people around me.”
4. What is one way you are hoping to grow in the next year?
“Besides finishing my studies, I would love to try something completely new and out of my confront zone. This has been on my mind for awhile just not sure what as of now.”
5. What is one reason you love your job?
“The variety in the role. Working & supportive within my community. I am also very lucky to be in a position that I feel I can ask my team/colleagues anything. “
1. What is something you find inspiring or joyful?
“Photography, to catch the moment and save memories“
2. What is one thing that you find scary, hard, annoying, or challenging?
“Indifference.”
3. What is one superpower you have?
“My imagination.”
4. What is one way you are hoping to grow in the next year?
“MSc in Artificial Intelligence for Business.”
5. What is one reason you love your job?
“Helping people!”
1. What is something you find inspiring or joyful?
“Humanitarian goodwill.“
2. What is one thing that you find scary, hard, annoying, or challenging?
“Global warming”
3. What is one superpower you have?
“Good Bluffer.”
4. What is one way you are hoping to grow in the next year?
“Improve my communication skills be it online or in person.”
5. What is one reason you love your job?
“Meeting people all the time.”
RUTH UNDERWOOD is a development officer in our Roma Inclusion Project.
1. What is something you find inspiring or joyful?
“This year I finally got round to finishing my garden and there was nothing more joyful than watching it grow over the summer!”
2. What is one thing that you find scary, hard, annoying, or challenging?
“Being organised!!”
3. What is one superpower you have?
“My new super power is setting personal goals and following through..”
4. What is one way you are hoping to grow in the next year?
“So many things I’d like to do but number one is learn ceramics 🙂 “
5. What is one reason you love your job?
“The work I do can be very challenging but figuring out different ways to overcome obstacles can be very rewarding, especially with such a great team that help and inspire me.”
1. What is something you find inspiring, or joyful?
“Spending time with family. It doesn’t matter if it just with one of my four children or with the big extended family. It brings me joy and if it involves food then even better. I enjoy the small things in life.“
2. What is one thing that you find scary, hard, annoying, or challenging?
“Too much uncertainty. I am getting better with age though and try not to worry about things I can not control.”
3. What is one superpower you have?
“Kindness. Kindness can be underestimated but I think it is a superpower. It is nice to be nice.”
4. What is one way you’re hoping to grow in the next year?
“I always have a need in me to learn new things and I am going back to Uni for a part time course that I hope will help me grow in my role at work. I also want to get back into running but it seems like I am very good at finding other things to do instead.”
5. What is one reason you love your job?
“I love my job because of the people I work with and the people we support.”
DARINA GREENE is our coordinator for Children & Young People, within our SICAP (Social Inclusion and Community Activation) programme.
1. What is something you find inspiring or joyful?
“My children.”
2. What is one thing that you find scary, hard, annoying, or challenging (in life)?
“My children.”
3. What is one superpower you have?
“I don’t have any obvious super powers, but I do think I am a really good judge of character. “
4. What is one way you are hoping to grow in the next year?
“I’d love to get time to have a hobby. Anything really…from salsa dancing to bog snorkelling…but something new.”
5. What is one reason you love your job?
“The people. My amazing colleagues, the people we work to support and those we link up with to do that.””
ANDREA O’REGAN is a Homework Tutor with one of our Homework Projects in Ennis, working with primary & secondary students and providing a safe & welcoming environment to complete homework. She is also an English Language Support Tutor with CLDC, in the Clare Youth Service Community Training Centre.
1. What is something you find inspiring, or joyful?
“Knowing that you are making a difference in the life and education of the children we are working with.“
2. What is one thing that you find scary, hard, annoying, or challenging?
“Time management is a concern, trying to fit in time for everything can be challenging and sometimes a case of imposter syndrome.”
3. What is one superpower you have?
“My memory, I always try to remember the details people give me about their lives and passions.”
4. What is one way you’re hoping to grow in the next year?
“I’m currently completing a PhD and this is constantly throwing new challenges my way.”
5. What is one reason you love your job?
“I honestly don’t think I could pick just one. Everyday is different and working with children is truly rewarding. “
MONICA MCKENNA is is the Coordinator for our Ukrainian Response team in the SICAP programme (Social Inclusion and Community Activation)
1. What is something you find inspiring or joyful?
“Spending time By the Sea and with my family and friends (limited time that is :-)) “
2. What is one thing that you find scary, hard, annoying, or challenging?
“Meeting new people and finding myself in new situations is something I find scary and challenging. “
3. What is one superpower you have?
“I hope my superpower is resilience, but would love to be able to teleport if I was ever to be granted a superpower.”
4. What is one way you are hoping to grow in the next year?
“Not sure, given I love the sea, possibly sea swim, if I can get over how cold the sea is.”
5. What is one reason you love your job?
“The sense of achievement in being able to help others and the communities and people I work with.”
SEAN MACNAMARA is a Development Officer for Employment Supports in our SICAP programme.
1. What is something you find inspiring or joyful?
“The colleagues I work with in CLDC are very inspiring, I feel very lucky to be part of a great service and to learn from everyone.“
2. What is one thing that you find scary, hard, annoying, or challenging?
“GOLF- can be hard, annoying and challenging. In work I also find it hard to refuse cake.”
3. What is one superpower you have?
“Just one?? Sure I have loads.. I like to problem solve and help out others. The best superpower I have is to listen to people.“
4. What is one way you are hoping to grow in the next year?
“Well after been brought up beside the sea, I think it might be time to learn how to swim.“
5. What is one reason you love your job?
“Just making a small positive impact on people’s lives.. but also I have great supportive colleagues, and this is a great opportunity for me to say ‘Thanks’ to them.”
1. What is something you find inspiring or joyful?
“My 2 kids…and wine and not necessarily in that order 😆 “
2. What is one thing that you find scary, hard, annoying, or challenging (in life)?
“Ageing!! I still think I’m 20 but the mirror says otherwise 🙂 “
3. What is one superpower you have?
“My directness and ability to cut through the bulls**t.”
4. What is one way you are hoping to grow in the next year?
“To get fitter, stronger and healthier and hopefully look 10 years younger 🙂 “
5. What is one reason you love your job?
“The people – we work with amazing people many of which have become great friends.”
1. What is something you find inspiring or joyful?
“Reading books on psychology, travelling and hiking.”
2. What is one thing that you find scary, hard, annoying, or challenging (in life)?
“Negativity has a bad impact on me, but I manage not to let it have a big influence on me.”
3. What is one superpower you have?
“Cheerful spirit.”
4. What is one way you are hoping to grow in the next year?
“I would like to overcome fear of Public Speaking.”
5. What is one reason you love your job?
“Engagement with clients and being able to help them.”
1. What is something you find inspiring or joyful?
“The simple things in life I find inspiring, things we all take for granted like being in good health, appreciation of family and good friends and loved ones. I smile when I hear my children tell me of new things they learn, discover. I like to help others in any small way with something they need, be it a little help with what they might find difficult. I aspire and am attracted to like minded people with a good sense of humour and a positive outlook.“
2. What is one thing that you find scary, hard, annoying or challenging?
“There are many challenges we all face in life. Personally I don’t feel scared of a challenge, and have always faced them head on, if I fail I dust myself down, shake it off & try again to do better the next time. It’s important to have a positive attitude believing in one’s own abilities to help overcome difficulties in life at any given time, as best one can.”
3. What is one superpower you have?
“Cannot reveal same, as its no longer ‘A SuperPower’ if revealed 😊“
4. What is one way you are hoping to grow in the next year?
“I don’t really measure growth annually on a personal level as the last few years have been challenge for everyone. As long as I can appreciate the simple things that help me grow I’m content enough. I’d like to drive a sports car in Mondello, with someone who is afraid of speed, (I have a few co drivers in mind) 😊 scare them in a good way, to feel that adrenaline rush for all, leaving safe and happy obviously. Run a 5k in sub 20mins on a Saturday morning park run. Maybe also get cycling more this year, learn to swim properly & take a foreign holiday to catch up on some travel missed out in recent years. “
5. What is one reason you love your job?
“When I hear or see others having a successful placement on the schemes I supervise; where some progress to full time employment, or others retire content, I loved that I helped in a little way.”
AGNES O’SHAUGNESSY is the coordinator for our LEADER programme.
1. What is something you find inspiring or joyful?
“My Children are my inspiration and guaranteed to bring a smile and a reason to push past any difficult days.”
2. What is one thing that you find scary, hard, annoying, or challenging?
“Uncertainty! the fear of what might happen in the future.”
3. What is one superpower you have?
“I raised four children (the last is 3/4 way there!)- getting through teenage years is a superpower on its own! (Add to that a dog, 3 cats, a turtle and far too many goldfish to count!) Ok maybe I didn’t do a great job on the goldfish – but that’s a glass of wine conversation!”
4. What is one way you are hoping to grow in the next year?
“I’d love to master living more in the moment. I feel I miss so much by thinking ahead in 1.5 speed! Running a 5k is also on my wish list!”
5. What is one reason you love your job?
The standout part for me is to see someone’s dream/vision become a reality to meet someone/or a group with an idea, nurture the idea with them and go through a process of development alongside them & later see that idea become a reality. “
SONIA MILLAR is a Homework & Mindfulness Tutor in our Homework Club programme.
1. What is something you find inspiring or joyful?
“I have a weakness for leisurely mornings at Farmer’s Markets.“
2. What is one thing that you find scary, hard, annoying, or challenging?
“Endless laundry scares me. “
3. What is one superpower you have?
“Cuteness is my superpower!!!”
4. What is one way you are hoping to grow in the next year?
“I’d love to walk & experience The Camino next year. “
5. What is one reason you love your job?
“What I do and who I am are beautifully interconnected.
There is a beautiful word I feel is quiet fitting – Ikigai.
Ikigai (生き甲斐, “a reason for being”) is a Japanese concept referring to having a direction or purpose in life, providing a sense of fulfillment and towards which the person may take actions, giving them satisfaction and a sense of meaning. My work with children is my passion, vocation, profession, and mission…. my Ikigai.
I am a mental health advocate, helping others come back to themselves, exposing ourselves to techniques that help us to grow into living healthier lives.
Holding space for children in homework club & offering mindfulness classes provides me with a sense of fulfillment, satisfaction and a sense of meaning. ♥“
1. What is something you find inspiring or joyful?
“Inspiring … I love Nature and I enjoy spending time in the garden . Joy.. My 2 boys , they have grown into 2 fine young men.”
2. What is one thing that you find scary, hard, annoying, or challenging (in life)?
“Spiders!!!”
3. What is one superpower you have?
“I put people at ease by chatting with them.“
4. What is one way you are hoping to grow in the next year?
“I don’t set goals . But I intend to keep enjoying life, not everyone is afforded the pleasure of getting old, my brother died at 53 .. he has missed so much with his family. So I treasure every day.“
5. What is one reason you love your job?
“I love meeting people.“
GARRY O’SHEA is a supervisor in our Tus & RSS programmes
(…and yes, this is a REAL PHOTO!! Though it could be from a few years ago 😉).
1. What is something you find inspiring or joyful?
“Most sports. Love coaching players. Also travel and visiting historic places.“
2. What is one thing that you find scary, hard, annoying, or challenging?
“False people.”
3. What is one superpower you have?
“Built in Sat Nav!“
4. What is one way you are hoping to grow in the next year?
“I want to learn to play the Guitar.“
5. What is one reason you love your job?
“Meeting people, plus every day presents a new challenge.”
MICHELLE BARRETT is the administrator within our LEADER programme.
1. What is something you find inspiring or joyful?
“I love ‘me time’, a simple walk on the beach with my dog away from the hustle and bustle of life.“
2. What is one thing that you find scary, hard, annoying, or challenging (in life)?
“I cannot tolerate negative people, they are hard work, annoying and challenging. Anything that scuttles scares me!!!”
3. What is one superpower you have?
“I can listen and forget! I can fall over my shadow and fall up a stairs.“
4. What is one way you are hoping to grow in the next year?
“I don’t want to grow any more!!! I’m quite happy as I am but at the back of my mind I’d like to be fluent in either Irish or French but I don’t think its going to happen“
5. What is one reason you love your job?“I actually love my job! I love being left alone to do my work surrounded by Admin tasks but please keep me away from dealing with people!“
1. What is something you find inspiring or joyful?
“I like to see others reach their goals. Having a laugh with my colleagues and Participants always lights me up.“
2. What is one thing that you find scary, hard, annoying, or challenging?
“Missing a Pobal deadline!!!! I hate to be late for anything and I get very annoyed if I am kept waiting on something. Oh and I am scared of spiders!”
3. What is one superpower you have?
“I can spot bullsh** anywhere. I can tell when someone is not being truthful and can read people very well.”
4. What is one way you are hoping to grow in the next year?
“Another 6 inches in height would be nice being a short a*se. I would like to try and not care so much about things I cannot change.”
5. What is one reason you love your job?
“The people I work with.”
1. What is something you find inspiring or joyful?
“The mornings, the sunrise, and the feeling of a new beginning.”
2. What is one thing that you find scary, hard, annoying, or challenging?
“I find it hard when things are unclear and uncertain, but I’ve learned to deal with it by being proactive. I break down complicated problems into smaller tasks, ask for help, and this helps me handle uncertainties better.”
3. What is one superpower you have?
“My superpower is agility, the ability to adapt and respond swiftly to changing situations.It helps me handle changes easily, learn fast, and stay flexible in everything I do.”
4. What is one way you are hoping to grow in the next year?
“One way I’m hoping to grow in the next year is through local development;), dedicating more time to self-care and mindfulness. I aim to achieve a perfect day schedule and make each day more wholesome.”
5. What is one reason you love your job?
“I enjoy my job because every day brings new challenges, allowing me to learn and grow continuously. This constant learning gives me a sense of purpose, as I know my contributions play a part in the overall success of the people I translate for, which is incredibly motivating.”
FIONA McSWEENEY is a tutor in one of our Homework Club Projects.
1. What is something you find inspiring or joyful?
“I am a mother of 3 fab kids who are my joy and I volunteer in the MAGS Women’s Shed doing Arts and Crafts. I love it. Its great fun.“
2. What is one thing that you find scary, hard, annoying, or challenging?
“That question has many, many answers. I have chronic anxiety and depression so everyday involves all those things. But managing well and taking care of myself is the key to coping well.”
3. What is one superpower you have?
“I can juggle many things at once.”
4. What is one way you are hoping to grow in the next year?
“I’d like to keep trying new things, learn something new.”
5. What is one reason you love your job?
“The team of women I work with. They are fantastic and we support each other.”
1. What is something you find inspiring or joyful?
“Travel, seeing new worlds, experiencing different cultures, people watching in the sun listening to different languages, it calms me and inspires me 🙂 “
2. What is one thing that you find scary, hard, annoying, or challenging?
“Housework ;( Its never-ending and so unrewarding with mucky kids and dog etc. etc!”
3. What is one superpower you have?
“A sense of humour – it can really help to keep things light!”
4. What is one way you are hoping to grow in the next year?
“Try to be present, live every day 🙂 ”
5. What is one reason you love your job?
“It’s creative, responsive, diverse, impactful and challenging in different ways.”
1. What is something you find inspiring or joyful?
“Working in the garden, connecting with nature.
There’s nothing like a good walk and coffee with friends.”
2. What is one thing that you find scary, hard, annoying, or challenging?
“My teenagers!!”
3. What is one superpower you have?
“Champion multi-tasker!”
4. What is one way you are hoping to grow in the next year?
“Keep learning in work and in life, sing more, live for today and strive to be more patient! ”
5. What is one reason you love your job?
“The opportunity to work with and support so many inspirational community groups and individuals who are passionate about their communities and give so much time and effort towards creating sustainable places.”
1. What is something you find inspiring or joyful?
“My family.“
2. What is one thing that you find scary, hard, annoying, or challenging?
“People!”
3. What is one superpower you have?
“Always on hand to help out.”
4. What is one way you are hoping to grow in the next year?
“Have some me time.”
5. What is one reason you love your job?
“The people I work with, not only are we work colleagues, I now call them my friends.”
1. What is something you find inspiring or joyful?
“Gardening! Getting my hands dirty, making the world more beautiful, helping things grow, and then enjoying how delicious they are, homegrown. I also really love teenagers!”
2. What is one thing that you find scary, hard, annoying, or challenging?
“I live really far away from my family, which is pretty hard sometimes. Also feeling like there’s always more that I should be doing to help make things better in the world.”
3. What is one superpower you have?
“Getting the dance party started!!”
4. What is one way you are hoping to grow in the next year?
“I’ve just started learning Irish! So I hope to be able to have conversations and support the native language. I also would love to take the first steps in getting a community garden going in my town. And run a 5K! Lots to do 😆”
5. What is one reason you love your job?
“I just love the laughs at work, how we know each other’s quirks. And I love that the people I work with really care about people in the community, and I love that my job is both to help advocate, and to spread good news.”
1. What is something you find inspiring or joyful?
“I am over 20 years working with children, from pre-school up to teenagers, and I am still leaning new things every day from them, What makes me smile is they are honest and funny, they have no filter, and tell you what they think, whether it be good or bad.”
2. What is one thing that you find scary, hard, annoying, or challenging?
“Sometimes you get the feeling that there is something going on in the background in a child’s life, and professionals are involved too, and they’re sad. It never gets any easier, no matter how much experience you have.”
3. What is one superpower you have?
“I can read a situation and people, learned it over the years.”
4. What is one way you are hoping to grow in the next year?
“Personally I’d like to learn Spanish.”
5. What is one reason you love your job?
“Just love going in to the children, to do my job, no two days are the same, never gets boring!”
OLHA ALEKSIEIEVA is a community interpreter with CLDC. She also has been doing art workshops through the Ukrainian Response program.
1. What is something you find inspiring or joyful?
“For me it is travelling, introducing with new places, walking near seaside, coffee mornings with myself 
.“
2. What is one thing that you find scary, hard, annoying, or challenging?
“Losing time, because I think time, after life itself, is the most valuable treasure we possess.”
3. What is one superpower you have?
“I think it is Faith and Hope.”
4. What is one way you are hoping to grow in the next year?
“One more language I hope to learn.”
5. What is one reason you love your job?
“Meeting people.”
1. What is something you find inspiring or joyful?
“I like to travel as much as possible insofar as reasonable Ryanair tickets will allow.“
2. What is one thing that you find scary, hard, annoying, or challenging?
“Nothing actually now at this point in my life, I’ve been through the scary, hard, annoying & challenging!! Life is good.”
3. What is one superpower you have?
“Smiling when I want to kill family or colleagues…!”
4. What is one way you are hoping to grow in the next year?
“In regards to work, I’d really hope to make a difference in changing people’s attitudes to health & safety and getting them to see the value in workplace safety. Personally, I would like to learn to swim, tread water, and not swallow too much pool chlorinated water while doing so!!!”
5. What is one reason you love your job?
“Interacting with my team colleagues that I work with in the RSS/Tus section, there’s never a dull moment!!!”
1. What is something you find inspiring or joyful?
“I’m joyful and inspired when my action changes someone’s life.”
2. What is one thing that you find scary, hard, annoying, or challenging?
“That I may not be able to render a help that someone desperately needs from me!”
3. What is one superpower you have?
“My Faith! All things are possible for those who believe!”
4. What is one way you are hoping to grow in the next year?
“Get on my bike again! I’ve never owned one since I became an adult! Not even sure if I know how to ride one again…”
5. What is one reason you love your job?
“Everyday is different, there is always something! Little fires that needs to be put out everyday, it keeps me on my toes and inspires me to keep learning.”