Creating opportunities with Damien Quinn

Episode 93 and my guest this week is Damien Quinn -founder of Speire Nua which means New Horizon. It was a college idea that challenged a personal problem area for Damien as he had struggled with addiction issues and criminality which led to imprisonment. Most people see prison as a really tough time but Damien saw it as an opportunity to reassess his life, to set goals, get educated and job ready. On his release Damien found that all his effort to change went largely invalidated and the historical convictions outweighed all of the progress he had made. Damien is now growing a peer mentor network and supporting people to gain a foothold in society. He also works for Galway Rural Development as Co-ordinator and Community Education and Ability Officer. He has also been nominated by Galway Council for Social Enterprise of the year For the All Ireland Community & Council awards. In this episode we spoke about Life events that affect on your life path. Taking responsibility Awareness of consequences Access to information & support for young people Being a Father in prison and hope for the future Starting again & Expectations Being accountable to others Building momentum in life, education and relationships Support & Validation The incentive to change Being the change we want to see in the world Aligning your passion and purpose. Networking & Connections To connect to Damien go to speirenua.org Facebook LinkedIn You can also connect to Sharon through www.sharonfitzmauricemindfulness.com