Launch of stirring book on Clare’s fight against domestic abuse

THE inspirational story of a community that said no to domestic abuse has been brought to life in a brand new book which will be launched in Ennis next week.

The public are invited to come and celebrate an important milestone in Clare – the launch of the book ‘Light on the Horizon’ at a wine reception in The Old Ground Hotel, Ennis on November 10 at 6.30 pm.

The book tells the story of Ennis women Mary Fitzgerald and Colette Redington who met by chance in 1992 when they both helped women who were victims of domestic abuse.

Clare Haven was born and three decades later there is a refuge, second-stage houses, a full range of outreach services and education programmes are available to victims of domestic abuse in County Clare.

It is an enduring statistic that one in four Irish women who have been in a relationship has been abused by a current or former partner. It became clear that more needed to be done. That was the impetus for the establishment of Haven Horizons.

Colette Redington, co-founder of Clare Haven and Haven Horizons says, “We realised that if we just kept providing refuge spaces, and if you fast-forwarded twenty years, some daughters would find themselves in the same situation as their mothers.  We needed to ask ourselves what we could do to break this cycle, so we set up Haven Horizons, a national education and research centre dedicated to preventing domestic abuse.

Madeline McAleer, research, training and development director of Haven Horizons, says, “Education is powerful, but it is using our shared knowledge to inform and influence practice, policy, and legislation that leads to structural and systemic change.”

Mary FitzGerald, co-founder says, “So many people in County Clare have been part of this story, giving their time and energy, volunteering, holding fundraisers and doing church-gate collections.

“What has been achieved in Clare is living proof of the truth of Margaret Mead’s words, never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world, in fact it is the only thing that ever has.”

Writer Sarah Harte, says, “Light on the Horizon is a must-read book, telling the gripping story of a group of women motivated to change lives, educating us on how to tackle domestic abuse and in the process dismantling the myths that surround domestic abuse.”

Light on the Horizon will be available to buy at the launch, in Clare, Limerick and Galway bookshops and online at the Ennis Bookshop.

For anyone affected by domestic abuse contact: Clare Haven Services 24hr confidential helpline – 065 6822435