Honour for ex-prisoner advocate
Maisie Mould
Sheila Connolly has been named Cork Person of the Month for May in recognition of her work in the support and rehabilitation of people who have been to prison.
As CEO of the Cork Alliance Centre, where she has worked since 2003, she plays an instrumental role in the development and provision of services that help people who have been in prison make a fresh start.
Sheila has a vast portfolio of work in volunteering and active citizenship behind her, including 10 years volunteering with St Vincent de Paul, over seven years as a board member of Cork’s Sexual Health Centre, and four years as an advisory group member for Men Overcoming Violence (MOVE) Ireland. She also worked for Concern following the Rwandan genocide and as an aid worker in East Africa and Laos.
Awards Organiser Manus O’Callaghan said: “Sheila’s work with the Cork Alliance Centre has positively impacted countless lives in Cork, providing ex-offenders with invaluable guidance and tools to allow them to rebuild their lives after spending time in prison.”
The overarching goal of the centre is to help people live crime-free life, by aiming to reduce re-offences and increase positive participation in family and community life.
There are also supports available for employers considering hiring people with convictions, which can be both a sound business decision and a tangible contribution to the community.
James Leonard, a past service user of the Cork Alliance Centre, has praised Sheila for her positive influence on his life and the lives of others in Cork. “Over the past 25 years, Sheila has helped thousands of Cork men and women rebuild their lives following a spell in prison. She has been key in breaking family cycles of offending and also reducing crime, which has in turn led to less victims of crime and a safer society for all.”
Sheila’s name will now go forward alongside the other monthly winners for possible selection as Cork Person of the Year at the annual Gala Awards Lunch, to be held in January 2025.