There is something powerful about hearing successful leaders speak about those who have influenced them positively throughout their lives. For International Women’s Day 2021, Athena Analytics wanted to do something to celebrate and recognise some of Ireland’s female leaders in education. We did this by doing a series of video interviews, focusing on their role models growing up and who they believed were good role models for students today.
A few things really stood out in these interviews. Though many spoke about women known worldwide as good role models for young people today, when asked about their own role models growing up the answers were often much closer to home. Many regarded their parents, teachers and women in the community as their role models. Inspiration can often come from ordinary people, doing ordinary things where their passion, humility, hard work, selflessness and strong values make them someone to look up to. The message here might be that the major influencers in our lives, the people whose values and ideas have the biggest impact on us, may be closer to us than we think.
Female role models who have fought hard for equality in education over the years are also recognised during these interviews. It was highlighted how privileged we are in Ireland, compared to others in the world when it comes to education; that the fight for equality in education by young women in other countries today reminds us that education is worth fighting for. This privilege is because of the efforts of many heroic people, who fought for better opportunities for Mná na hÉireann.
Overall these video interviews leave us feeling inspired and enormously grateful for our female school leaders all over the country who themselves are great role models for young people today. We are very grateful for those who participated and greatly enjoyed putting this together.
Katherina Broderick, Principal, Presentation Secondary School, Castleisland
Katherina Broderick talked about her entrepreneurial mother, Sheila Broderick, whose life philosophy influences Ms. Broderick every day. Ms. Broderick spoke about her mother always advised her to work hard and enjoy every day, that each of us can make a difference, no matter how small and that caring for others is more important than anything, no matter what it costs in time and emotion. Ms. Broderick talks about Michelle Obama as a great role model for young people today who highlights the importance of women supporting rather than competing with one another and how all of us have the ability within us to a be a person that inspires another.
Deirdre Hickey, Principal, The Teresian Secondary School
Deirdre Hickey talked about Sr Consilio Fitzgerald who founded Cuan Mhuire, a charitable rehabilitation organisation and in doing so took a great risk both in her vocation as a sister of mercy and as a woman of that era. She helped these people who others saw as “lost causes” to turn their lives around. Ms.Hickey spoke about how an ordinary girl from north Kerry went on to do extraordinary work in making a life-changing impact on thousands of people in Ireland. Ms.Hickey talks about Malala Yousafzai as a good role model for students today, quoting her famous phrase “One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world”.
Rachel O Connor, Principal, Ramsgrange Community College
Rachel O Connor talked about admiring Princess Diana when she was growing up who used her stature and role in society further afield and how she embodied the idea that “kindness costs nothing” and that when you are authentic to yourself and you care for others you truly can achieve great things. As an inspirational person today, Ms. O’Connor talks about Brené Brown and her message that it is ok to be vulnerable.
Fiona Daly, Deputy Principal, St Joseph’s Mercy Secondary School, Navan
Fiona Daly talked about Mary Robinson, the first female President of Ireland and how she transformed the office of the President in Ireland and how in her speeches she always referred to Mná na hEireann – giving that sense of empowerment to women across the country. As a role model today, Ms. Daly talked about Michelle Obama and her work on change across society in areas like equality and the appreciation of diversity and her message that “anything is achievable if you put your mind to it”.
Patricia Cullen, Deputy Principal of Portlaoise College
Patricia Cullen talked about the Irish writer, Edna O’Brien who was the first to “break down doors for women in Ireland to walk through” and who “gave Irish women a voice”. As a role model today, Ms.Cullen talks about Malala Yousafzai who inspires her every day and how this young lady highlights that education is worth fighting for. This idea is more important than ever today, at a time when schools as we know them have been transformed and being educated every day has become a challenge for educators and students alike.
Dr Orla Walsh, Deputy Principal, Mount Sackville Secondary School
Dr Orla Walsh talks about her lifelong role model Catherine McAuley who set up the Mercy Order and her insatiable appetite for care, love, empathy and compassion. Dr Walsh talks about the simple vision she takes from Catherine McAuley that “Just today, look down at your feet, and put one foot in front of the other and that’s how you move forward”. As an inspirational person today, Dr Walsh talks about Irish Olympian, Catherina McKiernan who is gentle and humble of heart, which are such attractive qualities in someone who was such a superstar and whose message is simply “Get out there rain hail or snow and run”.
Marie Breen, Deputy Principal, Loreto Abbey Dalkey
Marie Breen, Deputy Principal of Loreto Abbey Dalkey talks about her former teacher, Mary O Dwyer who showed her what excellence was in the classroom and exemplified really good education and how she cared for each individual student. Ms.Breen talks about the poet Amanda Gorman who has “Made poetry cool” and how she is a great role model for young people today in how choosing a different, and not necessarily fashionable, path and working hard at it can bring great rewards.
Aisling McAlpine, Principal, Presentation College Headford
Aisling McAlpine chose the Presentation sisters of Athenry as role models for her growing up. Ms.McAlpine described them as supreme examples of what it meant to give a life of service and to give back to the community to which you belong. She spoke about how legacy endures as she takes strives to practice their values and dedication as leading learner in a large Presentation secondary school today. Ms.McAlpine spoke about Niamh Hanniffy, a member of the 2019 All-Ireland winning Galway camogie team, who also teaches in the school, as a positive role model for young people today. She spoke about Niamh Hanniffy’s work ethic and perseverance as great qualities for young people today to look up to.
Many thanks again to these inspirational leaders for their contributions.
