As 2025 comes to a close, I want to take a moment to thank all our families, carers, volunteers and supporters for being such an important part of the St. Michael’s House community. Your support, encouragement and partnership make it possible for us to provide meaningful, person-centred services to the people we support.
This year has been a significant one as we celebrated 70 years of St. Michael’s House. We marked this milestone with summer barbeques in Ballymun and Templeogue, and held the first Share the Learning event, where adults who use our services shared their achievements, stories and experiences with independence, skills development, advocacy and community participation. It was a wonderful reminder of the progress, resilience and talent of the people we support.
The participation and influence of the people who use our services continues to be at the heart of everything we do. Members of our Templeogue Rights Group and Self-Advocacy Learners spoke at Leinster House, raising awareness of the barriers people with disabilities face and influencing government decisions.
We celebrated some historic milestones this year. Our first cohort of St. Michael’s House-trained Registered Nurses in Intellectual Disabilities (RNIDs) graduated, marking a significant investment in the future of our services. We also celebrated the official opening of the Ballymun Special National School extension by Minister Moynihan and the Caisleán Day Service by Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton TD, as well as the turning of the sod for a new Special National School in Skerries. These developments help ensure people with disabilities have continued access to modern, inclusive and community-based supports.
We are also proud of the Edible & Accessible Postcard Garden from our Belcamp and Riverside Day Services, which received a Certificate of Distinction at Bloom 2025, highlighting the creativity, teamwork and dedication of adults and staff alike, and our Templeogue day service who were national finalists in a Re-Turn national competition.
None of these achievements would be possible without the support and partnership of our families, carers, staff, volunteers and community. Thank you for everything you do to empower the people we support live meaningful, connected lives.
From all of us at St. Michael’s House, we wish you and your loved ones a very happy, peaceful Christmas and a joyful New Year.
Liz Reynolds, Chief Executive
St. Michael's House