Connection, Community and Change: An Inspiring Evening at Fota

John Bohan, Co-founder Apex Fund Services, in conversation with Jenny Copeland about the perils and rewards of mountaineering

Another unforgettable evening in Fota, full of laughter, honesty, and the kind of conversations that stay with you long after the night ends.  And yes, while it may have been a corporate gathering, it was in Cork and they absolutely know how to bring warmth, energy and a touch of magic to every moment.

We spoke about privilege, about responsibility, and about the quiet but powerful ways we can change someone’s life trajectory simply by showing up, by offering support, by opening a door that might otherwise remain closed.

Michelle Moore, National Home Visiting Manager with the Early Learning Initiative at the National College of Ireland

Michelle Moore, National Home Visiting Manager with the Early Learning Initiative at the National College of Ireland, delivered a deeply personal and powerful message that resonated across the room.

Sharing her journey from growing up in Dublin’s inner city flats, where expectations of education were low and opportunities limited, to becoming a national leader in early years intervention, Michelle embodied the transformative power of belief, access and opportunity. Her story is not simply one of individual success, but of what becomes possible when someone is given encouragement and support at the right time.

As she reflected, it was not greater ability that set her apart, but the eventual access to education and people who believed in her potential, something many children across Ireland still lack today. Michelle spoke passionately about the stark inequality that persists in access to education, highlighting the vastly different outcomes for children depending on where they grow up.

With the support of basis.point, programmes like ParentChid+, are building confidence in families, and strengthening communities from within. As Michelle illustrated through her own family’s journey and those of her colleagues, this is how true intergenerational change happens.

Michelle represents all that is good in Irish society: resilience, humility, compassion and an unwavering commitment to lifting others up. Her story is a powerful reminder that when we invest in people, we don’t just change individual lives, we strengthen families, communities and create lasting change for generations to come.

Eve Finn, basis.point Director and Vice-Chair challenging us to use our privilege to open doors of opportunity for others

Thank you to Eve Fin and Pat Lardner for challenging us to use our privilege not just thoughtfully, but actively to help create new futures. And to John Bohan in conversation with Jenny Copeland, for the nudge we all needed to pull on our boots and get out into the world and make a difference.

And not least to Daniel Herlihy, whose humour and storytelling not only brought incredible energy to the room, but also inspired some very enthusiastic bidding… even managing to sell a weekend climbing Carrauntoohil to an unsuspecting colleague!

Thanks to our sponsors Apex and Citco. Supporting young people to reach their potential throughout the entire country is a key focus for our work. It is encouraging to see the level of support in Munster and the South East. Nights like this remind us why we do what we do. Connection, perspective, and a shared belief that we can and should do more.

You can listen in to Michelle Moore’s speech here

Picture credits John Allen