Leona O’Callaghan The Haven Hub founder announces resignation leaving a lasting legacy

The Haven Hub has announced the resignation of its founder and chairperson, Leona O’Callaghan. Picture: Kate Devaney/ilovelimerick

The Haven Hub has announced the resignation of its founder and chairperson, Leona O’Callaghan

Leona has selflessly dedicated her time, skill, and experience to the community in Limerick and beyond, which meant that The Haven Hub founder put her own career and other commitments aside, while focusing on her goal of providing late-night support and other services for people, which as she knew from her own life experience, was desperately needed.

As a founder, director and volunteer, her role within the Haven Hub has been more than a full-time job. The Haven Hub has delivered amazing results since its founding in 2019, delivering over 220 courses and being involved in over 580 interventions at our drop-in centres across the Midwest, many of which Leona has been directly involved.

“Under her leadership, we have expanded our services to include drop-in centres and delivering mental health courses, suicide prevention training, support and walking groups and other supportive activities to people in Ennis, Mitchelstown and Waterford, to people who struggle to cope in daily life,” a Haven Hub spokesperson said.

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During this time, the Haven Hub has secured its “forever home” and gained charitable status, both of which were overseen by Leona as chairperson.

The spokesperson said, “Leona has decided that now she needs to return her focus to her career along with other commitments. We at the Haven Hub want to take this opportunity to wish her the very best as she embarks on a new role in the public sector.

“While we will miss Leona’s contribution to the everyday operation of the organisation, we are delighted to announce that she has brought together a new, strong, and effective board that will continue the mission of the Haven Hub under their management.

Leona said, “I feel so proud and so honoured to have met some of the most amazing people on my Haven Hub journey, that have helped me to create a much-needed support for those most vulnerable.

“While at times I might have been the face of The Haven Hub, there were many people, directors, volunteers, and supporters that were the backbone of the organisation. The dark times in my own life had a purpose by driving me to create this safe place for people that got to a place of hopelessness in life, for them to get compassion, care and understanding when they can’t have that for themselves.

“I’m excited to move on to a new chapter by returning to full time work, but I will continue to help The Haven until their name is over the doors of their forever home and until the new trainers are in place for the courses they provide.”

Leona spoke highly of those she has worked with at The Haven hub and says she will “be staying in touch with the amazing people I’ve met who I’m lucky enough to call my friends”.

“The new board of Directors is exactly what The Haven Hub now needs, as each of them bring strengths and personalities that will grow The Haven Hub in the right direction,” she said, adding, “I’m extremely grateful to everyone that supported our journey and especially my 3 children who supported me and were understanding of how important The Haven Hub has been in my life for the past 4 years. Limerick & Clare’s best assets are their people, one thing I know for sure is that the people I leave The Haven in the care of are the best people I know”.

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