Manon Gilbart, 21 Mar
ADAPT Domestic Abuse Service marks its 50th anniversary this month, but
hopes the need for their services "will eventually disappear".
Set up in 1974, ADAPT Domestic Abuse Services is a voluntary
organisation which provides a wide range of supports to women survivors
of domestic abuse and their children across Limerick city and county.
ADAPT runs the largest refuge in the country, providing emergency
accommodation for women and children who have to leave their homes
because of domestic abuse.
It also provides a wide range of outreach services for women who are
not staying in the refuge including: 24 hour helpline support, 1-2-1
support in relation to issues arising as a result of domestic abuse
e.g. financial and housing concerns, accompaniment to court to seek
legal protection, support groups for women who are or have been in an
abusive relationship, and educational opportunities for women survivors
of domestic abuse.
Mayor of Limerick City and County, Cllr Gerald Mitchell, formally
launched the event on March 8, which took place in ADAPT House and
thanked the staff of ADAPT for the excellent service they have provided
throughout the past 50 years.
Chairperson of the Board of Directors of ADAPT, Leonie Kerins, spoke of
the courage and resilience of the women and children who have used
ADAPT over the years. She also praised the management and staff of
ADAPT for their commitment and dedication in providing support to women
and children over the past 5 decades.
Director of Services, Denise Dunne spoke of ADAPT’s beginnings in the
1970s. She outlined the pioneering work of the group of women who
founded ADAPT in 1974 and the struggle they had in getting the first
refuge in Ireland, outside of Dublin, up and running.
She also mentioned how ADAPT had grown from strength to strength over
the years and the thousands of women and children who they had
supported.
She thanked all of the staff and management over the years, the boards
of directors, funders and the people of Limerick who have continued to
support ADAPT in making the organisation that it is today.
To conclude, she stated: “We need to continue to listen to women and
children and to remove as many barriers as possible for them to get the
justice and safety they deserve. We are honoured and privileged to
travel some of the way with them on their journey to freedom.
"Over the next 50 years we hope for a society where violence against
women and children is, as our National Strategy suggests, zero
tolerated. Hopefully in the next 50 years the need for ADAPT will
lessen and eventually disappear. For those trailblazing women who
founded ADAPT in the 1970, wouldn’t that be a wonderful legacy?”