Limerick's ADAPT services mark their 50th anniversary

ADAPT Domestic Abuse Service marks its 50th anniversary this month, but hopes the need for their services "will eventually disappear". 

Set up in 1974, ADAPT Domestic Abuse Services is a voluntary organisation which provides a wide range of supports to women survivors of domestic abuse and their children across Limerick city and county.

ADAPT runs the largest refuge in the country, providing emergency accommodation for women and children who have to leave their homes because of domestic abuse.

It also provides a wide range of outreach services for women who are not staying in the refuge including: 24 hour helpline support, 1-2-1 support in relation to issues arising as a result of domestic abuse e.g. financial and housing concerns, accompaniment to court to seek legal protection, support groups for women who are or have been in an abusive relationship, and educational opportunities for women survivors of domestic abuse.

Mayor of Limerick City and County, Cllr Gerald Mitchell, formally launched the event on March 8, which took place in ADAPT House and thanked the staff of ADAPT for the excellent service they have provided throughout the past 50 years.

Chairperson of the Board of Directors of ADAPT, Leonie Kerins, spoke of the courage and resilience of the women and children who have used ADAPT over the years. She also praised the management and staff of ADAPT for their commitment and dedication in providing support to women and children over the past 5 decades.

Director of Services, Denise Dunne spoke of ADAPT’s beginnings in the 1970s. She outlined the pioneering work of the group of women who founded ADAPT in 1974 and the struggle they had in getting the first refuge in Ireland, outside of Dublin, up and running.

She also mentioned how ADAPT had grown from strength to strength over the years and the thousands of women and children who they had supported.

She thanked all of the staff and management over the years, the boards of directors, funders and the people of Limerick who have continued to support ADAPT in making the organisation that it is today.

To conclude, she stated: “We need to continue to listen to women and children and to remove as many barriers as possible for them to get the justice and safety they deserve. We are honoured and privileged to travel some of the way with them on their journey to freedom.

"Over the next 50 years we hope for a society where violence against women and children is, as our National Strategy suggests, zero tolerated. Hopefully in the next 50 years the need for ADAPT will lessen and eventually disappear. For those trailblazing women who founded ADAPT in the 1970, wouldn’t that be a wonderful legacy?”