In this episode of the podcast Niamh talks to Sadie Harpur, author of The Hidden World of a Foster-Girl (co-written with journalist and author Jackie Hayden). Sadie talks about her experience in infancy of undergoing multiple moves in care, her relationships with her twin sister Kizzy and her birth- and foster-families, and some of the […]

Our guests on the twelfth episode of the Stories from Foster Care podcast are Josie Corr and Thomas Monahan, a foster carer and her now-adult foster son who join Andrew Murphy over Zoom. In a reflective and honest conversation they talk to Andrew about their lives together in fostering. Among other topics, they explore the […]

In this episode of Stories from Foster Care, Niamh sits down with social worker Sola Mobolaji and family support worker Doris Abuchi-Ogbonda to talk about how foster carers and others can support African children in care. Together they explore the experiences of unaccompanied minors and the challenges for young people of navigating the asylum process. […]

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 shines a light on just what it takes to care for children with […]

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 experience of the care system in Ireland from all of these perspectives. Her […]

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 for the rights of Traveller children, including Traveller children in care, and has […]

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 a wide-ranging chat, they speak compassionately and honestly about some of the challenges […]

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 of the experiences that have stayed with him over the years, some of […]

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 years of experience have changed their perception of the foster carers’ role, and […]

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 a family of foster carers (two of her three sisters also foster). She […]

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 care system. She tells us about the people who supported her in her […]

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 for many decades. Niamh Barrett and Catherine discuss her early life in Belfast, […]

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 system. Anne is a passionate advocate for the rights of children in care […]

Stories from Foster Care is a brand new 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 […]