THE BIG READ: The spirited Tullamore woman driving volunteerism in Offaly

DEIRDRE FOX, the spirited force behind the Offaly Volunteer Centre in Tullamore, has been matching people with purpose since the centre officially opened to the public in 2022. Though the centre is young, its heartbeat is strong, thanks to Deirdre’s decades of dedication to community development, both in Ireland and abroad. A native of Marian Place in Tullamore, Deirdre was raised in a home where boredom wasn’t an option. Her parents, Eamon and Sheila Fox, both now in their 90s,instilled in her a sense of drive and curiosity. Eamon, a familiar face in GAA circles, passed down his community spirit, which Deirdre took to heart from an early age.

The Spark of Service

It all began one summer when 15-year-old Deirdre wandered down to the local Youth Centre, seeking something more meaningful to do. There, she found Sr Jenny and an opportunity to get involved. "That was the beginning of it all,'' she recalls. ''I started helping out, became a youth leader, and knew this was the path I wanted to pursue."

With no formal qualifications at the time, Deirdre immersed herself in voluntary work, climbing the ranks through the Midland Regional Youth Service and eventually becoming a volunteer with the National Federation of Youth Clubs.

An opportunity arose in Wexford through the Ferns Diocesan Youth Service, where she joined a programme aimed at young people who were disengaged from school and work. That initial offer of "pocket money and accommodation" turned into a transformative journey that spanned years. She became a supervisor under a new government-backed youth employment scheme, what is now known as the Community Employment Programme.

''Wexford was a turning point,'' Deirdre says. ''I made friendships that have lasted to this day.''

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Cork, Literacy, and Betting Slips

Eventually, Deirdre moved on to Togher in Cork, managing a local development centre while studying at UCC. The centre catered to youth in crisis, many of whom couldn’t read or write. ''I noticed they could fill out betting slips, so we started a literacy and numeracy programme using betting as a hook,'' she says with a smile.

But the job came with challenges. The centre wasn’t open on weekends, which left a vacuum. ''Some turned to drinking, soft drugs, and joyriding. Spike Island was still in operation, and a lot of our youth were in and out of the system.''

Her time in Cork was valuable, but Deirdre felt the pull of home—and the GAA scene in Offaly wasn’t doing too badly either. She wanted to be nearer to Tullamore. So when a position opened with the Catholic Youth Council in Dublin, she took it. But it was her next experience that changed everything.

Paris and Peacebuilding

While in Dublin, Deirdre was selected for a unique peace-building project in Paris, working with Protestant and Catholic youth affected by the Troubles. Alongside colleagues from Northern Ireland and the Republic, she helped create safe spaces through music and shared experiences.

It was here that Deirdre’s talent for bridging communities came into full bloom. The organisation she was with asked her to stay on after the initial programme ended. She accepted and spent the next three years working on integration projects with communities from Algeria and Morocco.

One particularly memorable initiative brought a diverse group of young people from Paris—including Senegalese, Algerians, Moroccans, and a Korean and Hungarian teen,to Tullamore. They created a supplement for the Tullamore Tribune, working with local photographers and even hosting an exhibition.

''It was beautiful. Cultures coming together, telling stories, learning from one another. That’s the power of community,'' Deirdre says.

Coming Full Circle

Returning to Ireland, Deirdre joined the Community Enterprise Programme, serving the Midland Region and operating out of the very building that now houses the Offaly Volunteer Centre.

''We created a magazine called Networks to highlight innovative community projects across the country. It was such a vibrant time,'' she remembers.

That momentum led her to a national role with the LEADER Programme, supporting community-driven development across Europe. ''I met so many people I had started out with in Wexford.''

Eventually, in Offaly, Deirdre helped establish what would become the Offaly Volunteer Centre. ''When the Department of Community and Rural Development asked if we’d form a separate company, we stepped up.''

Working closely with Offaly Local Development and a powerhouse chairperson in Molly Buckley, the centre began to flourish. Today, they connect volunteers with organisations like Meals on Wheels, Saint Vincent de Paul, Power4Good, and more.

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More Than a Matching Service

The centre also operates a Community Volunteer Programme for one-off events like the Birr Vintage Festival or the St Patrick’s Day Parade. They also maintain a professional exchange bank, encouraging retired professionals or those still working to contribute their skills to local causes. ''Matching skills with need'' Deirdre says. ''It gives volunteers purpose and organisations the right support at the right time.''

A Life of Purpose—and Balance

Despite her packed schedule, Deirdre remains deeply grounded in her family. She’s a proud mother of four: Jane, who lives with her grandparents and helps support them; Jack, who’s thriving in Sydney with his partner; Dan, a mechanical engineering student with the army; and Luke, a personal trainer in Clara.

''They’re my greatest joy,'' she says. At the time of this interview, Deirdre was waiting for news from Sydney that could take her into a new chapter, becoming a grandmother.

Beyond work and family, she finds joy in music and books. She’s an active member of the Tullamore Stage School Ladies Choir and the Esker Book Club, both of which provide the balance and creativity she thrives on.

Why It All Matters

For Deirdre, community work is more than a career, it’s a calling.

''What makes it special is the people. These are not just there to advance their career. They’re changemakers. They’re the heartbeat of their towns and villages. I get such a buzz out of meeting them and hearing their stories,'' she says.

After a life spent travelling the world, developing programmes, and changing lives, she’s happy to be back in Offaly—right where it all began.

''In a way,'' she says, ''I’ve come full circle.''