Sheila Keegan Groome
Sheila Keegan Groome is the Director of Lumen Dominican Centre, Dublin. As Director, she is responsible for implementing the Centre’s vision and overseeing its general operation and development.
Heather Abrahamson:
BA Mod. (Hons.) Italian and French, TCD. She has many years’ experience in adult education.
Jane Bailey CJ:
Jane is an accredited instructor with the Irish Tai Chi Chuan Association. She has extensive experience in teaching Tai Chi to individuals and groups of all ages and abilities.
Fabiano Balzamino
Fabiano holds a Master’s degree in Oriental Languages, specialising in linguistics, and a CEDILS certification from the University of Venice to teach Italian as a foreign language. He has taught Italian at UCD in Dublin. He currently works at the Piccola Accademia di Italiano.
Andrew Pierce
Dr. Andrew Pierce is an Assistant Professor in Ecumenics at Trinity College Dublin, specializing in religion and modernity, religious fundamentalism, and Roman Catholic modernism, holding a PhD from TCD and a background in Church of Ireland theology, with a focus on historical-theological research and interfaith studies. He is involved with the Irish School of Ecumenics (ISE), has held senior research fellowships, and previously lectured at the Church of Ireland Theological College.
Dr Stephen J. Costello
Dr Stephen J. Costello, MA, PhD is a philosopher, psychoanalyst, Enneagram coach, founder of the Viktor Frankl Institute of Ireland, and the author of 16 books. He has thirty years’ experience lecturing and leading workshops and seminars both nationally and internationally. He consults to the corporate sector in the areas of meaning at work, leadership, and decision-making. His website is www.stephenjcostello.com
Phil Dunne:
MA, LGSM is an experienced tutor in English literature, who has worked with students of all ages and abilities.
Brian Dooney:
PhD, works with Age and Opportunity, the leading national development organisation improving the quality of life of people aged 50-100+. He develops and delivers programmes on positive ageing, drawing on the arts as a source of inspiration and hope. Previously, he worked as a lecturer in English and Adult Education in All Hallows College/DCU (2004-2016), presenting a range of modules in relation to Literature, Spirituality & the Arts; Creative Writing; Media & Critical Awareness.
Marie Helène Dolan:
BA, French and English, Brest University. She is an experienced French teacher, including many years in the Alliance Française, Dublin.
Patricia Feighery:
Patricia is recently retired but was lucky enough to enjoy teaching both Music and Choir for over 40 years, 38 of which were spent in St. Dominic’s
College in Cabra. Piano is my main instrument. I enjoy all things musical and over the years, I have worked on a great variety of projects and performances in all shapes and styles.
Ellen (Rose) Gormley:
Ellen (Rose) Gormley: is an experienced teacher and a trained psychotherapist. She has practised Centering Prayer for many years.
Sean Goan:
BA, BD, LSS is a Scripture scholar and retired teacher who has been involved in adult faith development for many years. He has also written commentaries on the Sunday readings and published The Sign: Reading the Gospel of John (2018).
Terry Hennessy:
trained and danced with a number of International Teachers of Sacred Dance. She has a gentle experienced teaching style and brings her own love of the dance to the group.
John O’Riordan
BA (UCD) in Art History, English and History, MA in Art History (UCD). He has many years experience of teaching Art History in third level and adult education.
Freya Dasgupta
Freya calls herself an itinerant scholar who shuttles between Trinity College Dublin, Mary Immaculate College, Thurles, and occasionally, Dublin City University as an adjunct assistant professor. Judaism, Jewish-Christian relations, and Christology are some of the subjects she teaches. She has a PhD in Theology from DCU, an MPhil in Intercultural Theology and Interreligious Studies from TCD, and an MA in Islamic Studies from Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi.
Nadia Quick:
is a Royal Academy of Dance Silver Swans licensed teacher and a registered teacher and life member of the Royal Academy of Dance and a Fellow of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing.
Fr Michael Kirwan SJ
Fr Michael is an Irish-British Jesuit theologian, who taught at the Jesuit university college in London for twenty years before moving to Ireland in 2017. Since then, he has taught at the Loyola Institute, in Trinity College Dublin. The institute specialises in theology in the Catholic tradition. Michael has written or edited several books on the work of the French American thinker, René Girard, and on political theology. He is also very interested in the relationship between theology and literature, and in the ways in which poetry and drama can open up questions about religious faith.
John Scally
PhD, lectures in Theology in TCD and was a secondary school teacher for 20 years. He is the author of over 40 books. His most recent book is ‘Inspiration for all Seasons: Celtic Wisdom for Today’.
John O’Grady
John was trained as a primary school teacher in Carysfort College of Education and taught for many years in Dublin. He studied theology in the Milltown Institute and the Gregorian University. Later, he specialised in Buddhist-Christian dialogue while in the Irish School of Ecumenics. He completed his doctorate in 2010 (Trinity College Dublin). Until last year he was Vice-President of the European Network of Buddhist Christian Studies (ENBCS). He lectures in the School of Religion, Theology, and Peace Studies, TCD.
Eileen White:
Eileen has worked in Education for many years. She has worked in counselling and retreat work. Eileen has been practicing Centering Prayer for a number of years.
Vivian Boland OP
Vivian Boland OP is a Dominican friar who has taught at the Dominican houses of study In Tallaght and in Oxford, at St Mary’s University in Twickenham and most recently at the Angelicum University in Rome. He has published a number of books and many articles in theology and spirituality. He has also served in pastoral and administrative roles and preaches a number of retreats each year for religious communities. His most recent publication is The Spirit of Catholicism (2023).
Niamh White
Niamh holds a PhD in Theology from Trinity College Dublin and received her bachelor’s degree World Religions and Theology at Trinity College. Her research brings together systematic theology and disability theology, considering issues such as how systematic Christology can benefit from the insights of disability.
Noreen Kane
Noreen Kane fell in love with the Italian language as an undergraduate student at UCD. Since then, she has completed a PhD in contemporary Italian literature at UCC and worked as a language teacher (English and Italian) for many years. She is currently working on a book on postcolonial Italian women’s writing and teaches Italian at UCD.
David White
David White is a spiritual director & Church of Ireland priest based in Rathgar. His background also includes training at the National Botanic Gardens. He is the author of the book The Gardened Soul: The Emotional Connection to More.
Margaret Quinlan (nee Tyndall) B.A.(Hons), H.Dip.Ed, D.C.G.(Hons)
Margaret worked for 30 years as a teacher of German and French and as a Guidance Counsellor. Her first teaching assignment was in Sion Hill Secondary School, where she did the teaching practice for her Higher Diploma in Education. She also holds a Diploma in Theology from the Milltown Institute.
Fidelma Ní Ghallchobhair
Rugadh agus tógadh i gContae Chill Dara Fidelma, agus thugadh sí cuairteanna rialta ar Ghaeltacht Láir Thír Chonaill, áit dúchais a máthar. D’fhreastail sí ar
mheánscoil de chineál Scoil A i Móinteach Mílic, Contae Laoise, áit a bhfuair sí oideachas lán-Ghaeilge. Bhain sí bunchéim amach sa Ghaeilge agus sa Laidin agus
iarchéim sa Nua-Ghaeilge, chomh maith leis an ATO (Ard-Teastas san Oideachas) i gColáiste na hOllscoile, Gaillimh, tráth ar chaith sí tréimhsí i nGaeltacht Chonamara. D’oibrigh sí ar feadh roinnt blianta mar eagarthóir ar théacsleabhair agus ar leabhair do pháistí in An Gúm. Chuaigh sí ag obair ansin don Choiste Téarmaíochta, agus is í Cathaoirleach an Choiste sin le roinnt blianta anuas. Bhí Fidelma gníomhach le fada i gcúrsaí drámaíochta Gaeilge le hAisteoirí Bulfin i
mBaile Átha Cliath. Chóirigh agus léirigh sí gearrscéalta mar dhrámaí agus rinne cuid mhaith aisteoireachta leis an gcumann sin.