The story of Kyrie Farm (https://www.kyriefarm.ie/)
We are delighted to present this first ‘Fields of Healing Podcast’, literally from a field, with the potential to bring healing to many who otherwise may not have the opportunity.
This episode is longer than a normal episode. It unfolds as a story that can be paused when the listener chooses and can easily, like a good book, be picked up again when you are ready.
The background, purpose and public face of Kyrie Farm can be found on their website above. Here in this Podcast, we interviewed three people pivotal to how Kyrie Farm will evolve.
John McKeon the founder of this initiative brings the vision and rationale for why Kyrie Farm will be relevant in mental health care into the future. Dr Eoin Galavan is the Services Director for Kyrie Farm and outlines the aspirations for creating a therapeutic farm and what at this stage of collaboration the service will be like. Ciara Glynn brings the voice of experience to all aspects of the services development, as Peer Advisor at Kyrie Farm.
We hope you enjoy it and are inspired, as we were when visiting the farm and talking with John, Ciara, Eoin and indeed several other supporters of the Farm.
The interviewees
John McKeon
I am married to Vicky and we had 3 sons. Kieran, Michael and Rory. After tragically losing our son Kieran to suicide in 2013, we have sought to find better help for people living with mental health challenges and in 2020 started an initiative Kyrie Therapeutic Farm CLG.
Kyrie Farm is being set up to create a unique healing environment combining the benefits of nature, meaningful participation, community and professional therapy. It is based on a model in the USA used at Gould farm, which has shown excellent results in helping people to get back to independent living and employment, and live life to their fullest potential.
The charity has purchased a beautiful 57 acre farm near Ardclough, County Kildare. We received planning permission from Kildare County Council, but are currently awaiting an appeal with An Bord Pleanala.
Our intention is that this facility will be a “lighthouse” project, incorporating the very best in evidenced based treatments and the recovery model, and ensure that other families do not have to experience the unimaginable loss that we have.
Dr. Eoin Galavan is a Senior Psychologist in the HSE, North Dublin Adult Mental Health Services. Eoin is a Chartered Psychologist and Associate Fellow with the Psychological Society of Ireland. He has been involved in delivering specialist suicide prevention services with Adult Mental Health for over a decade and is a visiting lecturer with the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Trinity College Dublin. Eoin is currently a director and board member with Kyrie Farm.
Ciara Glynn is a peer support worker in North Dublin adult community mental health services. Also a guest lecturer in DCU, UCD and TCD. Delivering content on peer support, the lived experience and recovery education to peer support, nursing and psychology students. Ciara currently acts as Peer Advisor at Kyrie Farm where she offers guidance and recommendations ensuring the voice of the lived experience is ingrained in service design and delivery.
