I really enjoyed listening to our Recruitment and Marketing Lead, Eithne Larkin, speak recently on the Catch Up with Louise McSharry podcast, and I wanted to highlight her amazing story and the work she does here with Origins Foster Care. As many of you know, Eithne isn’t just a vital part of our team – she’s also an experienced foster carer herself, bringing a depth of understanding and empathy to everything she does.
Listening to the conversation unfold was quite moving. It really struck me how much Louise McSharry herself was so understanding and able to connect what Eithne was saying to her own story as someone who was adopted and is also a mother to her own children. It speaks volumes about the universal themes of family, belonging, and the need for safety and care that underpin fostering and being a parent in general. Eithne has done a wonderful job of explaining so many things from the child’s perspective, which is something we hold so dear here at Origins.
She has such a wonderful ability to explain such a difficult side of life in such a relatable way. Hearing her articulate the realities – the joys, the challenges, the absolute necessity of trauma-informed support – reminded me clearly of why we started Origins in the first place. As Eithne put it so honestly in the podcast, when discussing the fostering experience:
There are huge rewards, absolutely huge rewards, but equally there are huge challenges. And during that challenging time, you need to access support.
That really gets to the heart of it. Our own story is built on the belief that children deserve to heal and thrive, and that foster carers need unwavering support to navigate those challenges. Eithne touched on the kind of support network foster carers need, like our 24/7 support line, which isn't just a service, but a lifeline built from understanding the unpredictable nature of caring for children who've experienced trauma.
The conversation touched on so much – who can foster today (which is so much broader than it once was!), the importance of maintaining connections with birth families, and the profound difference that a stable, loving home can make in a child’s life, even for a short time. It truly captured the heart of what fostering is all about.
It reaffirmed my belief in the work we do at Origins, ensuring that both children and carers are carefully matched and supported through every step. This careful, considered approach is central to why fostering with Origins feels different; it’s a community built on shared understanding and dedicated support.
If you've ever felt a pull towards fostering, or even if you're just curious, I really encourage you to listen to Eithne's conversation with Louise. It might just resonate with you too. And if it sparks something more, please do reach out. Exploring whether fostering is right for you is a journey, and we're here to walk that path with you, offering information and support without pressure. You can find out more about becoming a foster carer right here.
You can listen to Eithne catch up with Louise McSharry on your preferred podcast platform (Acast, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify) below:
I’m incredibly proud of Eithne for sharing her wisdom and heart so openly. As she reminded listeners, even amidst the complexities, "foster care does make a huge difference to children's lives... you can help them to work through" a very difficult situation and impact their lives in a positive and lasting way.
It’s conversations like these that help demystify fostering and highlight the urgent need for more loving homes for children in Ireland, so a big thank you to Eithne for speaking with Louise McSharry on her podcast, for representing Origins so well, and for being an inspiration for potential foster carers all across the country.
Warmly,
Mieke Ryan
CEO, Origins Foster Care
Reach out for any questions and enquiries. A member of our fostering team will get back to you as soon as possible.
