Cuan Mhuire


Cuan Mhuire is a charitable drug, alcohol and gambling rehabilitation organisation in Ireland. Cuan Mhuire offers a comprehensive, structured, abstinence based, residential programme to persons suffering from alcohol, other chemical dependencies and gambling. Cuan Mhuire was founded by Sr. Consilio Fitzgerald a member of the Sisters of Mercy in 1966. Cuan Mhuire has its own programme, developed by Sr. Consilio and her staff over a period of 40 years. Cuan Mhuire has rehabilitation centres and other facilities all over Ireland both north and south dealing with approximately 2500 people each year.

History and development

Cuan Mhuire was founded by Sr. Consilio in 1966. Sr. Consilio had qualified as a nurse and a midwife and had been stationed in St. Vincent's Hospital in Athy, County Kildare.
Sr. Consilio first real interaction with alcoholics was when she worked in St. Vincent's. She realised that her true calling was to help the people who were marginalised and considered 'untouchables' and to show them that a rebirth was possible.

Dairy

In 1965 Sr. Consilio convinced the nuns in Athy to convert the dairy of the convent into a 'drop in' centre, where she could greet her visitors and listen to their troubles. This dairy became the focal point of Sr. Consilio's work with the homeless and the addicts. By this time, a few tradesmen had begun to recover from their addiction and they set to work on the dairy. Thus a functioning unit began. As the building was being reconstructed, so too were peoples lives being reconstructed.
In the early days, the dairy became known as the 'dug out', so Sr. Consilio felt she must give it a proper name. Her friend, Dr. Des O'Neill who was a constant help in the
development of Cuan Mhuire, suggested the name "An Cuan" meaning "The Harbour". Sr Consilio felt that it would have to include Our Lady's name and said none of this would have been possible without her– hence the name "Cuan Mhuire".

First purpose-built rehabilitation center

In November 1972, a farm of land came up for sale just outside Athy. Sr. Consilio, encouraged by the support of her Mother superior, paid a visit to the local bank manager. He asked Sr. Consilio how she would pay for it. She told him that "Our Lady would provide". Sr. Consilio attended the auction in full nun regalia and she came away from the auction with a forty two acre field and no way to pay for it.
The bank manager later discovered that Sr. Consilio had paid off the purchase price in full and he had not to worry about honouring the big cheque. When he asked Sr. Consilio how she managed to pay for the land, she simply replied: “Our Lady helped me”.

Programme

The mission statement of Cuan Mhuire is:
Cuan Mhuire is inspired by the belief "that every human being is made to the image and likeness of God, this means, that deep within each one, there are unlimited capacities for goodness, gentleness, kindness, generosity, endurance, happiness, joy, peace, love and truth".
The Cuan Mhuire style of treatment is focused on tackling the two problems
  1. The underlying issues that have created the addiction to an addictive substance.
  2. The addiction to an addictive substance.
The addiction programme aims to identify the underlying causes of the addiction and to deal with the pain underneath these addictions.
Cuan Mhuire uses the following methods to achieve its goals.
;Philosophy
;Guiding principles
Cuan Mhuire works to a number of guiding principles.
  1. Emphasise the positive. Believing there is no value in the negative, guilt, remorse, poor self-image, and low self-esteem. These are things to be reduced or removed rather than boosted.
  2. Responsibility is encouraged. Cuan Mhuire want to walk with people rather than do their walking for them.
  3. Understanding where people are at, and where they are coming from. Many of Cuan Mhuire's staff who work with those currently suffering from addiction, have previously suffered similar experiences themselves.
  4. Cuan Mhuire is a community to help, support its members. Cuan Mhuire considers that their community doesn't just include those who are in Cuan Mhuire but also draws in their families and carers.
  5. Perseverance simply a refusal to give up on anyone.
  6. Cuan Mhuire believes in the higher power offered to them by God and that Spirituality runs across and through Cuan Mhuire.

    Recognition of work

has been publicly honoured on many occasions. Sr. Consilio has accepted every award or nomination on behalf of Cuan Mhuire. The awards include:
Since then Cuan Mhuire charity has increased in size dramatically going from one site in Athy to having locations all over the country. As of 2019 it has 5 full residential centres, 3 residential transition houses and 2 training centres. Cuan Mhuire has facilities in both north and south of Ireland.
;Full residential centres
;Residential transition houses
;Training