My buddy Maeve is a special kind of human. Warm, giving, generous and just so authentically herself. I recently heard the phrase “We don’t make friends, we recognize them” and this was very much my experience meeting Maeve.

By day, she heads up Music Connects, an amazing organisation who bring the most gorgeous musical events to Galway. By night (and weekend), she is a celebrant and solemniser, making magic at weddings, naming ceremonies (she did ours! more on that soon), and more.

Maeve is part of a circle of Galway mammas that mean more to me that they know. For Nollaig na mBan, Maeve gathered a few of us and held her first Mother Nourishment Circle, a moving, intimate and soulful ceremony that she designed “for mothers who care so deeply for their children and families but who may not often get to fill their own cup.”

Taking place in lovely Suile Eile, through a few simple, moving rituals and a guided meditation we explored the themes of nourishment, self-compassion and deep rest in a way that left me feeling so loved. We so need these little pockets of joy to re-connect with ourselves.

I had never done anything like this, so thank you Maeve for bringing us on such a gorgeous journey.