Cork IMHREC Conference: A rewarding experience for all.

IMHREC Cork Conference, 7th April, 2009 at the Charleville Park Hotel, Charleville, Co. Cork.  Picture of IMHREC Consortium Members and Conference Presenters. Back row, left to right: Margaret Webb (EVE Ltd., Dublin), Karen Colligan (Sefton Recovery Group Network, UK), Paul Guckian (Clare Mental Health Services), Kieran Fegan (STEER Ireland, Donegal). Front row, left to right: Piers Allott (Recovery Educator, UK), Valerie Maguire (IMHREC Programme Coordinator), Kate O’Sullivan (Ballyhoura Development Ltd., Limerick), Harry Gijbels (Sli Eile Housing Association, Cork), Joan Hamilton (Sli Eile Housing Association, Cork)

Following the successful national conference in Dublin, the first of the two regional conferences was held at the Charleville Park Hotel in Charleville, Co Cork, on 7 April. The conference was very well attended, with approximately 140 people attending, representing people with self experience, family members and mental health professionals. Piers Allott provided an excellent key note address, followed by equally excellent presentations by Karen Colligan from Liverpool and Paul Guckian from Ennis. The workshops in the afternoon, facilitated by Piers, Karen and Paul, generated lots of interesting debates and challenging questions. Feedback from the delegates was very positive, and the overall atmosphere was one of excitement and anticipation about the pending recovery education workshops. The day was joyously brought to a close with some fantastic impromptu flute playing by one of the delegates.