Webinars
The Takeaway Tuesday Parent Talks
Buy courses seperately: €15 per webinar
Takeaways:
Each talk will leave you with:
- Practical tips you can use immediately.
- Evidence-based advice from trusted professionals.
- Real-life experiences from people who understand both sides of the journey.
- Greater confidence in supporting your child.
Course Lessons
Content
More about the Speakers and Panelists:
Week 1: School avoidance and the reasons behind it
Dr David
Cashman
Founder of The WellSchools Network. With 16 years of experience in education, David has built a solid foundation of knowledge and expertise in educational disadvantage and trauma.
Dr Joanna Fortune
Accredited clinical psychotherapist specialising in the parent-child relationship. Founder of the Solamh Clinic in Dublin (2010), working with families across a variety of issues. Author of the 15-Minute Parenting series, setting out play-based techniques to help families connect.
Dr Jen O’Sullivan
Lecturer in Literacy Education at the Marino Institute of Education and a Research Fellow in the School of Education at Trinity College Dublin. She specialises in literacy and early reading, is the author of A Sound Beginning for Reading, co-author of Sounds Like Phonics, and a former President of the Literacy Association of Ireland; she was also awarded a Fulbright Scholarship in 2022.
Pamela O’Leary
SPHE specialist and former Guidance Counsellor. Joining this session in a career guidance capacity, to speak to school reintegration and the practical strategies that support a young person’s return to school life. Also speaking on 2 February.
Seán Burns
Qualified as a Civil Engineer before entering the classroom. He is a Deputy Principal and SEN Co-ordinator and is now focused on AI and educational technology, specifically how to make these tools work for pupils with additional learning needs.
Founder of The WellSchools Network. With 16 years of experience in education, David has built a solid foundation of knowledge and expertise in educational disadvantage and trauma.
Dr Joanna Fortune
Accredited clinical psychotherapist specialising in the parent-child relationship. Founder of the Solamh Clinic in Dublin (2010), working with families across a variety of issues. Author of the 15-Minute Parenting series, setting out play-based techniques to help families connect.
Dr Jen O’Sullivan
Lecturer in Literacy Education at the Marino Institute of Education and a Research Fellow in the School of Education at Trinity College Dublin. She specialises in literacy and early reading, is the author of A Sound Beginning for Reading, co-author of Sounds Like Phonics, and a former President of the Literacy Association of Ireland; she was also awarded a Fulbright Scholarship in 2022.
Pamela O’Leary
SPHE specialist and former Guidance Counsellor. Joining this session in a career guidance capacity, to speak to school reintegration and the practical strategies that support a young person’s return to school life. Also speaking on 2 February.
Seán Burns
Qualified as a Civil Engineer before entering the classroom. He is a Deputy Principal and SEN Co-ordinator and is now focused on AI and educational technology, specifically how to make these tools work for pupils with additional learning needs.
Week 2: Navigating phones and the
online world
Dr Sarah
Cassidy
Irish educational, child and adolescent psychologist, and the 56th President of the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI). Founder and director of the Smithsfield Clinic, and a peer-reviewed Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) trainer.
Mick Moran
CEO of the Irish Internet Hotline, Ireland’s national reporting centre for illegal online content, with a particular focus on child sexual abuse material and intimate image abuse. He has over 30 years’ experience in online child safety and previously spent more than 20 years with An Garda Síochána investigating crimes against children nationally and internationally
Dr Fionn Donnelly
Specialist Registrar, Department of Public Health, HSE Dublin and Midlands. Dr Steevens’ Hospital, Dublin 8, D08 W2A8. Mobile: +353 87 3289694. Email: Fionn.donnelly1@hse.ie
Irish educational, child and adolescent psychologist, and the 56th President of the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI). Founder and director of the Smithsfield Clinic, and a peer-reviewed Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) trainer.
Mick Moran
CEO of the Irish Internet Hotline, Ireland’s national reporting centre for illegal online content, with a particular focus on child sexual abuse material and intimate image abuse. He has over 30 years’ experience in online child safety and previously spent more than 20 years with An Garda Síochána investigating crimes against children nationally and internationally
Dr Fionn Donnelly
Specialist Registrar, Department of Public Health, HSE Dublin and Midlands. Dr Steevens’ Hospital, Dublin 8, D08 W2A8. Mobile: +353 87 3289694. Email: Fionn.donnelly1@hse.ie
Week 3: Real talk re drinking, vaping, smoking
Dearbhla
O'Brien (Drinkaware)
Dr Sheila Gilheany
Chief Executive Officer, Alcohol Action Ireland. Sheila has a background in physics and extensive experience in policy development and advocacy, having led a range of not-for-profit organisations in science, education, public engagement and social enterprise. Most recently she was National Manager for the Institute of Physics in Ireland, developing policy positions on research funding, facilities, gender and access to physics at all levels. She was previously Director of the Irish Centre for Talented Youth at Dublin City University for 11 years, and is Chair of the Board of Directors of Specialisterne Ireland, which supports the employment of people with autism. She holds a BSc (Hons) in Physics and a PhD in Astrophysics from Queen's University Belfast.
Dr Sheila Gilheany
Chief Executive Officer, Alcohol Action Ireland. Sheila has a background in physics and extensive experience in policy development and advocacy, having led a range of not-for-profit organisations in science, education, public engagement and social enterprise. Most recently she was National Manager for the Institute of Physics in Ireland, developing policy positions on research funding, facilities, gender and access to physics at all levels. She was previously Director of the Irish Centre for Talented Youth at Dublin City University for 11 years, and is Chair of the Board of Directors of Specialisterne Ireland, which supports the employment of people with autism. She holds a BSc (Hons) in Physics and a PhD in Astrophysics from Queen's University Belfast.
Week 4: CAO, HEAR, DARE, SUSI
Micheál Landers
MIGC, has over 25 years of experience in education and career guidance, including serving as the Principal of Bruce College in Cork. He now operates independently, providing professional career guidance with a student-centred and evidence-based approach.
Natalie O'Connell
Lecturer in Professional Social Care, Health Promotion and EDI. Passionate about lifelong learning and inclusivity within education.
MIGC, has over 25 years of experience in education and career guidance, including serving as the Principal of Bruce College in Cork. He now operates independently, providing professional career guidance with a student-centred and evidence-based approach.
Natalie O'Connell
Lecturer in Professional Social Care, Health Promotion and EDI. Passionate about lifelong learning and inclusivity within education.
Week 5: Relationships, consent and growing up online
Pamela O'Leary
SPHE specialist, former Guidance Counsellor and SPHE/Ethical Education teacher. Creates SPHE resources, and is co-author with Gill Education of the My Wellbeing Journey series.
Mick Moran
CEO of the Irish Internet Hotline, Ireland’s national reporting centre for illegal online content, with a particular focus on child sexual abuse material and intimate image abuse. He has over 30 years’ experience in online child safety and previously spent more than 20 years with An Garda Síochána investigating crimes against children nationally and internationally
SPHE specialist, former Guidance Counsellor and SPHE/Ethical Education teacher. Creates SPHE resources, and is co-author with Gill Education of the My Wellbeing Journey series.
Mick Moran
CEO of the Irish Internet Hotline, Ireland’s national reporting centre for illegal online content, with a particular focus on child sexual abuse material and intimate image abuse. He has over 30 years’ experience in online child safety and previously spent more than 20 years with An Garda Síochána investigating crimes against children nationally and internationally
Week 6: ADHD, incl. sport, ED and addiction angles
Anna Czuczman
Founder of Eat At Ease Counselling. She is a psychologist specialising in Nutritional Psychology, Eating Psychology and Mind Body Nutrition. Her professional qualifications include MSc in Psychology, PgDip in Nutritional Psychology, Mind Body Nutritition Coaching and Practitioner Skills for Eating Disorders. She helps clients who struggle with overeating, binge eating, emotional eating, food worry, weight worry, body image concerns, digestion, low mood and fatigue.
Founder of Eat At Ease Counselling. She is a psychologist specialising in Nutritional Psychology, Eating Psychology and Mind Body Nutrition. Her professional qualifications include MSc in Psychology, PgDip in Nutritional Psychology, Mind Body Nutritition Coaching and Practitioner Skills for Eating Disorders. She helps clients who struggle with overeating, binge eating, emotional eating, food worry, weight worry, body image concerns, digestion, low mood and fatigue.
Week 7: Sport as a protective factor for teens
Rob Downey
Cork senior hurler and Glen Rovers clubman. A Ballyvolane native, he made his Cork senior debut in 2019 and captained the county through the 2025 season, leading them to Munster and National League titles and an All-Ireland final. He won an All-Star at centre-back and a Fitzgibbon Cup with UCC in 2020.
Mick McCormack
Head coach at Dolphin Swimming Club in Cork, where he runs the full programme from learn-to-swim through to senior international level and leads the Munster regional performance pathway squad. Under his coaching, Dolphin have been the overall top-scoring club at the Irish Nationals for three years running. He is also a PE and English teacher.
Andrew Bree
Two-time Olympic swimmer, competing in the breaststroke at Sydney 2000 and Beijing 2008, where he reached the 200m semi-finals and twice lowered his own Irish record. From Helen’s Bay, Co. Down, he was the first Northern Irish swimmer to medal at the European Short Course Championships (silver, 200m breaststroke, Dublin 2003) and represented Northern Ireland at four Commonwealth Games. He now works in coaching, swimming commentary and speaking, and has spoken publicly about his own experience of depression and about phones, social media and sedentary lifestyles among teenagers.
Nadine Seward
Founder of SafeSite Solution, which uses virtual reality to train construction workers in health and safety. Nadine grew up playing a range of sports before settling on soccer at 14, and has played in the Women’s National League ever since — most recently with Cork City FC, following a spell with DLR Waves. Sport taught her discipline, teamwork and the ability to take a knock and get back up, all of which now feed into building and growing her own business. On the webinar she will talk about what sport did for her as a teenager, and why she believes every child should be playing sport.
Seán O'Leary
Former Kerry senior football panellist. Sustained serious injuries in July 2021 when a dangerous driver collided with his girlfriend's car as they travelled home from a Munster Championship match near Abbeyfeale.
Cork senior hurler and Glen Rovers clubman. A Ballyvolane native, he made his Cork senior debut in 2019 and captained the county through the 2025 season, leading them to Munster and National League titles and an All-Ireland final. He won an All-Star at centre-back and a Fitzgibbon Cup with UCC in 2020.
Mick McCormack
Head coach at Dolphin Swimming Club in Cork, where he runs the full programme from learn-to-swim through to senior international level and leads the Munster regional performance pathway squad. Under his coaching, Dolphin have been the overall top-scoring club at the Irish Nationals for three years running. He is also a PE and English teacher.
Andrew Bree
Two-time Olympic swimmer, competing in the breaststroke at Sydney 2000 and Beijing 2008, where he reached the 200m semi-finals and twice lowered his own Irish record. From Helen’s Bay, Co. Down, he was the first Northern Irish swimmer to medal at the European Short Course Championships (silver, 200m breaststroke, Dublin 2003) and represented Northern Ireland at four Commonwealth Games. He now works in coaching, swimming commentary and speaking, and has spoken publicly about his own experience of depression and about phones, social media and sedentary lifestyles among teenagers.
Nadine Seward
Founder of SafeSite Solution, which uses virtual reality to train construction workers in health and safety. Nadine grew up playing a range of sports before settling on soccer at 14, and has played in the Women’s National League ever since — most recently with Cork City FC, following a spell with DLR Waves. Sport taught her discipline, teamwork and the ability to take a knock and get back up, all of which now feed into building and growing her own business. On the webinar she will talk about what sport did for her as a teenager, and why she believes every child should be playing sport.
Seán O'Leary
Former Kerry senior football panellist. Sustained serious injuries in July 2021 when a dangerous driver collided with his girlfriend's car as they travelled home from a Munster Championship match near Abbeyfeale.
Week 8: Eating disorders, incl. ADHD+ED, ASD+ED, male ED
Harriet Parsons
CEO
at Bodywhys - The Eating Disorders Association of Ireland. Harriet has been
working and studying in the area of psychotherapy for nearly two decades,
specialising in the area of eating disorders. Harriet completed an MA in
Addiction Studies and then an MSc. in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy at St.
Vincent’s Hospital. Harriet and is now CEO of BodyWays - The Eating Disorders
Association.
Reviews from our Students, Parents & Teachers
Reviews from our Students, Parents & Teachers
Reviews from our Students, Parents & Teachers
Reviews from our Students, Parents & Teachers
Reviews from our Students, Parents & Teachers
Reviews from our Students, Parents & Teachers
Reviews from our Students, Parents & Teachers
Reviews from our Students, Parents & Teachers
Reviews from our Students, Parents & Teachers
Reviews from our Students, Parents & Teachers
