The inaugural Youthreach Connect Conference for County Tipperary took place in the Horse and Jockey on the 2^nd and 3^rd of December. The theme of the conference was to bring together all the service providers that work with and support Youthreach in County Tipperary. In so doing, it allowed the different organisations within the region an opportunity to foster links and also reinforce existing connections. We were delighted to have members of the ETB and Fr. Peter McVerry to open the conference. Fr. Peter McVerry gave an account of some of the realities faced by many Irish people today as homelessness is at its peak in Ireland today.

The two day conference included many speakers and dealt with issues such as Self-Care, Encouragement, Mindfulness, Managing Challenging Behaviour and the finale was a play performed in the Source Theatre in Thurles by Ballyfermot Youthreach ‘If Walls Could Talk’ produced by Chris O’ Rourke and which is en route to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, performed by Youthreach students from Ballyfermot.