Brij Committee

Governance, Direction & Oversight

Maria Magee

Chair Person
Maria Magee, originally from Clones in Co Monaghan, moved to Cork in 1981. She spent most of her teaching career as Art Teacher in Cork Prison. During her time there she trained as an art therapist. At the height of the Syrian war and the surge of refugees into Europe Maria spent a month working in a refugee centre in Lesvos. She recognised the need for every community to respond to the refugees crisis  at a local level. On her return she found the recently formed “Brij” group who were responding to the needs arising in DP centres in Cork. She became one of their volunteers.
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Marie Collins

Secretary
Marie Collins has been a member of various committees;- school executive, parent teacher association, and golf club.  She has also volunteered with Citizen's Information and  volunteers weekly in Marymount Hospice. Marie is a founder member of Brij and enjoys volunteering with the group as it helps to empower and befriend people living in Direct Provision.  
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Deirdre Seery

Treasurer
I have worked in the field of HIV and sexual health for many years. I am from Dublin, have lived in Edinburgh and England and count Cork as my home. I love travelling and diversity and I'm passionate about social justice. I've been involved with BRIJ since the start. I'm honoured to be a volunteer in Glenvera and have been enriched by this. The Covid19 virus shows us how we are all linked in the same world. Hopefully we can learn from it.

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