Corlann works in the heart of the community
Caring and supporting some of the most vulnerable people in Ireland is more than a job - it’s a calling.
Corlann is the new name for Brothers of Charity Services Ireland, who provide support to more than 6,000 people each year with an intellectual disability, including individuals with autism. Services are delivered by committed teams of staff with diverse educational and professional backgrounds. The name comes from the Latin word for heart- cor and lann, the Irish word for place.
Maria Gleeson Cary, Speech & Language Therapy Manager in Corlann South explained how she began working with Corlann.
“While completing my degree in Clinical Speech and Language Therapy, I undertook a college placement in a special school with the Brothers of Charity and loved the experience. What inspired me most was working as part of a team with each child or adult and their family to help them achieve their goals and build a meaningful life. Every person we support is unique, making it a dynamic and rewarding area. I knew right away that I wanted to work in disability services.
“I have been working with Corlann for 20 years and currently support five speech and language therapy teams: four children’s disability network teams and one adult team. My work focuses on maintaining clinical standards, guiding service development and ensuring that the people we support receive high-quality, person-centred care. I also have a small caseload in our adult service, supporting safe Feeding, Eating, Drinking and Swallowing (FEDS), enhancing communication and training staff,” she added.
“Every day brings something new, and that’s what makes the job exciting. I might be meeting colleagues, supporting staff, working directly with the people we support, delivering training or collaborating on projects and strategic initiatives.
“At Corlann, we focus on work-life balance, emphasise teamwork and provide training opportunities for our staff. What makes our services truly unique is our genuine focus on the people we support. It’s never just a tick-box exercise. It’s the foundation of everything we do,” Maria explained.
“One highlight for me was an art initiative for World Autism Day called ‘Celebrate Your Autism’. Autistic children from across Cork took part in creative workshops with professional artists and submitted their own artwork. We hosted a wonderful opening event at UCC and produced a booklet showcasing the artists and their work. It was such a rewarding project and a real celebration of creativity and inclusion,” she finished. See corlann.ie/join-our-team for more.