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Saturday 13th August 2016

Slí na Bandé, Newtown Mountkennedy, Co. Wicklow

SPEAKERS

The talks will be taking place outside, weather permitting. Following the welcome and opening at 10 am the talks will commence, lasting approx forty five minutes. If the weather is too bad talks will take place in the Chalet.

There will be talks in the morning and the remainder following after a break for lunch. Everything is consecutive so it's possible to attend everything, if you want to. The order shown here does not reflect the actual running order on the day, this will be given on the ticket which also serves as a programme.

Pól Corcoran - Holding: Making Space Sacred and Safe
Paul Corcoran is a druid grade member of OBOD and is active in the pagan community in Galway and Belfast. Outside of paganism, his other passions in life include Toastmasters and 5Rhythms. He often writes words and sometimes puts them in blogs or speeches. His A talk and workshop is exploring tools to most effectively hold safe and sacred space in rituals and group meetings.


Cait Branigan - Anu: Harvest Queen, Mother of Demi-gods
Cait Branigan is an Ordained Priestess of the Western Mystery Tradition, a Bean Feasa (Shamanic Practioner) and Healer working within the traditions of Ireland.  She works with individuals for healing at her centre in Co. Wexford. She also works with and teaches groups in Ireland and abroad.  An essential part of her work is in the area of Women’s Mysteries in which she has conducted workshops and ceremonies around the country.  She also facilitates sweat lodges within the Irish Tradition and performs Rites of Passage within the community.  She is an Ovate with the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids and a member of the Fellowship of Isis.


Luke Eastwood - Caring for Trees Workshop
Luke is a member of OBOD and Druid Clan of Dana; he is also the facilitator of Solas Nemed (a druid grove in Co. Wexford), co-founder of Irish Druid Network and author of several books including The Druid's Primer and The Journey. He is also a musician, Reiki practioner, artist, poet and trained horticulturist. Having worked in gardening for many years now, with a particular interest in garden renovation and tree planting. He currently maintains the grounds of an addiction rehab centre in Wexford. He teaches 'Grow Your Own Veg, Fruit & Herbs' at night classes for adults as well as gardening at home when time permits.

Anna Coote - Opening and Closing Ceremonies
Born in Wexford but currently living in the Midlands, Anna is an ordained Priestess of the Fellowship of Isis, member of Solas Nemed Druid Grove, apprentice Shaman, Reiki Master/Teacher, Hedgewitch, Poet, Crystal Therapist, Counsellor, hands-on healer, linguist & Mother! Anna works as an Integrative Counsellor & Holistic Therapist, she also runs meditation, Shamanic Journeying & therapy groups and sells her own range of hand-crafted, crystal jewellery. Anna is passionate about empowering people to find their own wisdom & healing within themselves. She draws her influences from; nature, the moon, indigenous spiritual & Druidic practice, the amazing people around her and personal life experience- which partly comes from living an alternative lifestyle as a child with a large extended family, travelling with horses and living in waggons, immersed in green wildlife, freedom and dirt!


John (Sean) Aherne - Pagan Survivals in Ireland
Sean Aherne was born into a smal-farming family outside Dingle in 1946.At that time it had no electricity & no piped water. Sean grew up imbibing the old Folk Religion that animated the yearly round of the unfolding seasons marked by Festivals like Puck Fair,Pattern days at Holy Wells,solstice bonefires,St.Brigid crosses and holy mountain pilgrimages.Ancient customs like La an Dreoilin ( Wrens Day ) are still alive in Dingle. Sean taught in 1st 2nd   and 3rd level colleges. He has led workshops & retreats far & wide.
He is a Celtic Christian Monk in a small Monastery outside Dublin. He is inspired by the Celtic Ancestors , the early Celtic Saints & the writings of the late philosopher poet & mystic John Moriarty (1938-2007).Like these he is touched moved & inspired by the sheer stupendous beauty of the natural world & he spends much time in contemplation at ancient Sacred Sites in places of great naturel beauty.

Sophia Boann - Irish Wake Customs: Keening
Sophia Boann is originally half English, half Dutch but is now firmly rooted in East Cork. She is an experienced Gardnerian High Priestess, member of OBOD and works in the Pagan community through the Well of Wisdom temple which has a focus on Celtic based practice. Sophia studied History at University and has a particular interest in Celtic folklore and Celtic civilisation. During this workshop we will have a closer look at the Irish wake customs which are quite unique for the North West of Europe. We will look into why they disappeared from Irish society and which of the customs have remained. The workshop will be concluded by practising 'keening'. Keening or crying used to be done by professional women who were hired at funerals in Ireland to enable the mourners to freely release their grief. Keening includes crying, wailing and rocking combined with particular breathing patterns. With our keening we will be honouring and remembering those who have passed on and you are invited to bring an object or picture of those that you wish to honour.


Philip Carr-Gomm - Working with Sacred animals & plants workshop
Philip lives in the wide open landscape of the South Downs in Sussex, England, with his wife Stephanie. In his teens, he began studying Druidry as a spiritual path with Ross Nichols, the founder of The Order of Bards Ovates and Druids (OBOD). Later he took a degree in psychology from University College London, and trained in psychotherapy for adults at The Institute of Psychosynthesis, and in play therapy for children with Dr Rachel Pinney. He also trained in Montessori education with the London Montessori Centre, and founded the Lewes Montessori School. In 1988 Philip was asked to lead OBOD, and he combines this role in the Order with writing, and giving talks and workshops. Although his spiritual practice is rooted in Druidry, he believes we have entered an era in which we can move beyond attachments to labels, drawing instead upon the Perennial Tradition, being inspired by the wisdom in all spiritual paths and teachings – following the Way of the Universal Mystic. He is also particularly interested in ways in which we can preserve and protect the natural world for future generations.


Further info: 0863119660 or email info@irishdruidnetwork.org

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