Meet Us
Current Director
Mary Condren Th.D.
Mary has degrees in theology, sociology, and social anthropology from the University of Hull; religion and society from Boston College, and a doctorate in religion, gender and culture from Harvard University. She is a Visiting Research Fellow at the Centre for Gender and Women’s Studies, Trinity College Dublin. She has also taught at several other Irish and international institutions. https://www.tcd.ie/cgws/people/Mary-Condren.php. She has completed the BodySoul Leadership Training Programme with the Marion Woodman Foundation.
Publications: Mary has published widely issues of feminism and religion, and on the relationship between religion, violence and gender. https://tcd.academia.edu/MaryCondren
Ongoing Research
She is currently working on the figure of Brigit in the Living Traditions, Lives of Saint Brigit, and on how Brigit is represented in Irish saga material.
Current Board
Lia O’Hegarty
Lia studied Law and Irish (language) at UCC, and environmental law & policy at University of Michigan and at Harvard University. She worked for many years in the public service, including at the Law Reform Commission, the Houses of the Oireachtas, the Human Rights Commission and the Constitutional Convention. She is interested in humanistic, naturalistic and neuroscientific approaches to spirituality. She is also interested in contemporary forms of ritual and rites of passage.
Natalie Lough
Natalie studied Anthropology, French, Human Geography and Irish Archaeology at NUI Maynooth, NUI Galway and DIT. She is training as an Enneagram practitioner and has a deep interest in human consciousness, European folklore, indigenous customs, ritual and history. She works as a consumer insights manager. She is involved in local heritage and community projects and writes for a local heritage journal.
Joy Powell
Joy completed degrees in Theology, Philosophy and Pastoral Leadership at the Dominican House of Studies, The Milltown Institute and All Hallows College. She has recently retired from her role as Healthcare Chaplain at St. John of God Community Services. She is currently researching Irish Women Writers and Irish Women Artists.
Consultants to the Board
Marian Dunlea
Marian Dunlea M.Sc., IAAP, ICP, is a Jungian analyst and Somatics practitioner who has been teaching and leading workshops internationally for the past 30years integrating body and soul. She is core faculty and head of the BodySoul Europe training programme, sister organization of the Marion Woodman Foundation. With the development of her unique approach BodyDreaming®, Marian incorporates developments in neuroscience, trauma therapy, attachment theory with Jungian psychology, and the phenomenological standpoint of interconnectedness. Her book, BodyDreaming in the Treatment of Developmental Trauma (Routledge) won the Gradiva Award for Best Book 2019 from the NAAP (National Association for the Advancement of Psychoanalysis) and is co-winner of The International Association for Jungian Studies, Best Book Award 2019.
Rosari Kingston
Rosari Kingston PhD MSc practises as a medical herbalist in an integrative medical practice in West Cork. She also lectures on the topic ‘Herbs and Healing in Irish Folklore’ in the Dept. of Folklore & Ethnology at University College Cork. Her book ‘Ireland’s Hidden Medicine’ (2021) explores Irish indigenous medicine from legend and myth to the present day.
Nóirín Ní Ríain
Nóirín Ní Riain is an internationally acclaimed Irish singer of spiritual songs from many traditions. A theologian, musicologist and recording artist, her publications include an autobiography:Listen With the Ear of the Heart and Theosony: A Theology of Listening.
In 2003, she was awarded the first ever doctorate in Theology from MIC, University of Limerick for her originality in creating a theology of Listening for which she coined the term, Theosony, meaning The Sound of God.
In July 2017, Nóirín was ordained an Inter-Faith minister in London and now has embarked upon a new role of spiritual counsellor and celebrant of rituals, blessings and sacred ceremonies.
With her two sons, she continues to direct pilgrimages in Ireland and they present very popular spirituality courses on Zoom.
Websites: www.noirin.love and www.turasdanam.com
Gabrielle Stuart RSM. M.A.
Gabielle Stuart RSM. M.A. is a Sister of Mercy and international religious congregational facilitator. Gabrielle is one of the founder members of Woman Spirit Ireland.
