'This is their home and we love them as our own'

The Connors of Duleek are a normal, happy and loving family with a very busy household.

Nora and Shane have created a loving home for their own two children Chloe (18) and Aoife (14) as well as for the two children they are fostering.
An eight year old girl and her seven year old brother have been very much part of their family for the past four years and Nora explains that they have become permanent members of their family.
“We know we will have them until they are 18 and they can stay with us as long as they want after that - this is their home. They are our son and daughter now and we love them as our own,” she says.

“They have brought the fun back to our home, especially the excitement at Christmas and the joy of their first holidays.”
The Connors have been foster carers for eight years, having cared for a baby, two little boys and non national siblings before taking in the two children that have now become part of the family.
They foster through the Five Rivers Ireland Agency.
Nora says that at times it has been very hard, but she would do nothing differently.

The brother and sister, who cannot be identified, are now permanent members of their family, but Nora and Shane have also fostered on temporary arrangements.
Their first experience of fostering was giving a home to a very young baby, straight out of hospital.
The couple then took two little brothers into their home, aged two and three.
“There were two great little characters and brought great fun into the house. They were from the inner city and had never been able to ride a bike outside or driven in somebody’s car. They thought cars were all taxis.

“We always knew that eventually the boys would be going home and we discussed it with them and they did go home to their family. Of course, we were sad when they left but everything worked out well for them,” she recalls.
Two children who made their own way from South Africa to Ireland in a bid to join their mother, who was in Manchester were also cared for in the Connor home when they were stopped by immigration.
“The boy was 12 years old and the girl was 17. They were with us ten months while they were waiting for their papers, They are now living with their mother in Manchester and getting on great.”
The situation with the brother and sister they care for now is different, in that they are in long term care order and are now permanently part of the Connor family.

The little boy was three when he came with nappies, bottles and dodies. “Now he thinks he rules the world and is seven going on 17,” Nora says.
“He is thriving at school, has loads of friends and is very popular.”
His sister is a year older and although she struggled a little at school the agency had helped her with supports.
Nora (pictured with daughter Chloe, above) says she loves seeing them enjoy new experiences like holidays and horse riding.
“The first year we went on holidays they were so excited but they asked if there was somewhere they could sleep.
“They do things like horse riding and ballet dancing and it is wonderful to see them experience new things and get chances they wouldn’t have got otherwise.
“They have brought so much fun and joy to the family, They have morphed into our family and now call us Mum and Dad.”

Nora explains that she had done a Special Needs Assistance Course, when the idea of fostering came into her head.
“It was always something at the back of the mind and I’m glad we did it. I would do it all again.”
Nora says that when the family made the decision to foster, she had been talking to the HSE but someone she knew suggested Five Rivers Ireland because of the back up service they provide.
“Five Rivers have a 24/7 helpline which is great.
“Even if you never use it, it is great to know the back up is here,” she says, Five Rivers Ireland is an independent fostering agency.

Hazel Crothers of Five Rivers explains; “We have foster families all over Ireland. We work closely with Tusla to provide family based care for children and young people who cannot live at home. Our ethos is to operate a holistic service which recognises people’s strengths and works with them to flourish and thrive.
“We have a team of wonderful foster families who look after children and young people of all ages. “We have a highly qualified and motivated team who provide support to the foster families, with training, individual support, therapy and education services as well as 24 hour on call support.”
Hazel explains that they are looking to grow their team of foster families and they need foster carers all over Ireland and particularly in Meath where there is a shortage of foster parents.

There are more children than ever coming into care. “The types of fostering that families can do include: emergency foster care (at very short notice), respite/very short time limited care, short term, open ended and long term.
“We are looking for families who could care for children and young people of all ages from babies to 17 years.

We also need families who can care for sibling groups or who may be interested in providing a placement to a young parent and their baby. “We would also like to recruit some families who could care for a child with a disability. If you think you could foster or would like to know more please visit our website www.fiveriversireland.ie or call our office on 018665290,” she said.