The findings revealed the most positive influences came from strong community figures who supported and guided participants toward relevant opportunities. But in the heart of these estates, communities long defined by structural disadvantage and stigma, a quieter, more personal force was often at work: the local clergy. Across the study, a distinct narrative emerged: clergy members provided support far beyond the pulpit. One participant recalls a pivotal moment when a member of the clergy helped her access a school outside her immediate neighbourhood. For many, the clergy provided the "social glue" that held childhoods together.

Source: Irish Examiner January 19, 2026 20:30 UTC