Niamh started with An Cosán many years ago, she is from Tallaght and grew up in the local area of Tallaght village. She had four children who were under the age of 9 before she went to An Cosán.

She first learned of An Cosán when she got a leaflet in the door, and decided to do a personal development course where she began to discover a flare for writing. The manager at the time spotted something was not right in her personal life by reading her assignments, and organised counselling for her.

Counselling began to help her to create a 5-year plan and gain the courage to leave the violent relationship that she was in since she was fifteen. She was supported and built trust with her counsellor, and her four children were also looked after at the Early Years centre, saying “An Cosán was there for me the whole time”.

After her first course, Niamh went on to do Counselling skills and Childcare, and continued on the path of education and obtained her masters in education.

Niamh is now a secondary school teacher of History and English and her children are all college educated and thriving. She is also a part-time tutor for third level students and is getting her first book published. She said that if she did not go to An Cosán she probably would not have realised the situation she was in. She would not have been educated to Masters level, nor found a flare for writing. She still avails of Counselling at An Cosán to this day.

We congratulate Niamh on her accomplishments!

If you’re inspired by Niamh’s Story, then take the next step in your journey and find out more about our Adult Education courses