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Home arrow News arrow Local News arrow Siobhán O’Brien Co-Ordinator of Lava Java’s Youth Café
Siobhán O’Brien Co-Ordinator of Lava Java’s Youth Café E-mail
Written by Rachael Finucane   
Wednesday, 19 November 2008
SIOBHÁN O’Brien, co-ordinator of Lava Java’s Youth Café, said that before its foundation, Limerick was much in need of a space for local young people to simply hang out—a need which is thankfully now being met.
The newly revamped café was the lucky recipient of €350,000 in funding from the AIB Better Ireland Programme and was re-launched by the Ombudsman for Children, Emily Logan, this Monday.
Siobhán, originally from Doon, got involved in youth work when she met the founder of Limerick Youth Service, Sister Joan Bowles, who gave her a “wonderful opportunity to pursue” her ambitions.
“I worked with AIB in West Cork and I was the student officer, which I always loved doing. I took a career break and was thinking about a change so it was great to get the chance in 2002. I was a ‘house parent’ for four young guys at the LYS centre in Ballyloughran in Kerry first of all and it was fantastic to get out of the city and live a different kind of life for a few months. I came back to Limerick as a support worker at our community training centre and I suppose I haven’t looked back,” she said.
“I’ve worked with young people facing issues like homelessness, domestic abuse or crisis pregnancy but another huge issue is the fact that many feel that they have nowhere to go that they can call their own—somewhere to meet friends, display their creativity or do things like have a music gig. There are very few drug and alcohol free spaces and venues. We did a lot of research and the desire for a youth café for teenagers kept coming up.”
The café in Lower Glentworth Street first opened in the summer of 2007 during Riverfest by holding a big outdoor gig and the positive response and attendance has grown ever since.
“To be chosen for the flagship funding was a huge boost,” Siobhán explained, “We now have our own PA system, a lovely chill-out area, an arts and crafts area, a tuck shop and other equipment like a pool table. It allows them to embrace their interests and individuality. It’s so successful because we have a committee of 12 young people and they tell us what they want and need. I’m like an adult mentor and we work in tandem.”
She added that the youth service workers often give young people the chance to talk to a trusted adult who is not seen as a negative authority figure.
“They just want someone to talk to them like a peer and with facilities, it’s not ‘one size fits all’ because not everyone plays sport and older kids want somewhere to hang around. I think we have the most creative and brilliant young people who were falling through the cracks. The funding also allows us to run the café for 18 months and put together a programme of events and activities,” she said.
“Last weekend, there was a charity music gig for Self Help Africa and we have a photography exhibition coming up. A student on placement from Mary I has been helping with entries for the Fresh Film Festival. We are starting ‘Limerick Youth Got Talent’ again, which is for young people with all kinds of performance skills. We got a massive response last year and we hope to have auditions all over city and county.”
Siobhán—who works with two part-time co-ordinators—said that Limerick Youth Service is built on a “spirit of volunteerism and co-operation”.
“There is a great team here and young people are a huge part of it. When they feel they’re listened to, they blossom. The have very valuable ideas and need a forum. With confidence in their ability, they want to take on more challenges and the youth service is here to help them.”
For more information on Lava Java’s or ‘Limerick Youth Got Talent!’ see www.limerickyouthservice.com.

Name: Siobhán O’Brien
Occupation: Co-Ordinator of Lava Java’s Youth Café
Location: Limerick Youth Service, Glentworth Street.
Favourite thing about Limerick: The talented and vibrant young people here.
Worst thing about Limerick: How good work is sometimes lost in the bad press.

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