New initiative set up to help families of children with ADHD living in Tipperary

A Thurles native is helping to support families across Tipperary who are raising children with ADHD, many of whom are quietly struggling to manage the everyday realities of family life with ADHD.

Cate O’Connor, an ADHD Family Coach and Youth Worker originally from Thurles, is a co-founder of a new Irish not for profit social enterprise, ADHD Family Network, set up to provide accessible and affordable support for families navigating ADHD with practical guidance, shared understanding, and community connection.

With over 50 years’ combined experience across the team, alongside lived experience of ADHD as parents and individuals, the group says they are seeing a growing need for support among families.

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“What we’re hearing again and again is that parents are doing their best, but often feel overwhelmed and quite alone in it,” said Cate.

“There can be challenges around emotional regulation, school and homework, routines, and self-esteem, and families don’t always feel fully understood.

” Cate’s own journey into ADHD coaching began following her own diagnosis, which brought a deeper understanding of how ADHD can impact daily life.

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“It shifted how I saw things,” she said.

“I try to bring that understanding into my work with families, helping them feel seen, less alone, and more confident in
supporting their child to thrive.

”While awareness of ADHD has increased in Ireland, she says there is still a gap between understanding the condition and supporting parents and young people in everyday life.

"The ADHD Family Network recently launched with an online event and is now beginning to offer small, in-person workshops for parents, with its first gathering taking place in Limerick later this month, accessible to families across the Mid- West and Tipperary.

"The workshops aim to provide a safe, supportive space for parents to connect, share experiences, and gain practical tools.

“This is about creating a space where families can pause, breathe, and feel understood,” Cate added.

“When parents feel supported, it has a real impact on the whole family."

The group hopes to expand its work over time, building a wider network of support for families across Ireland.

The event will take place at the Limerick Radisson Blu Hotel on 26 April 2026.

Those interested in visiting can book a space here: www.adhdfamilynetwork.ie