Circles of Connection

Stories and reflections from people around Ireland using Restorative Practices in their work and life.

S2 Ep15: Episode 15: Epilogue

In this short epilogue, Dorothée talks about how the podcasts were produced and some of the lessons she learnt from interviewing practitioners around Ireland.  References: The UBUNTU project: https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/law/news/ubuntu-project-brings-young-black-adults-and-garda-together-dialogue-dublin-west Connolly, C. et al. (2022) ‘New actors and new learning spaces for new times: a framework for schooling that extends beyond the school’, Learning environments research, pp. 1–13. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10984-022-09432-y.

07-28
14:11

S2 Ep14: Episode 14: Were our ancestors more restorative? Some answers with John Biggins.

John Biggins, Lawyer, Lecturer at Maynooth University, and Academic knowledgeable on the Brehon Laws, gives some perspective to understand how restorative the ancient Celtic Legal system, the Brehon laws, were.  To know more about John’s interest in the Brehon Laws: https://thebrehonlawyer.com/

07-21
42:23

S2 Ep13: Episode 13: Creating restorative, relational school communities, Michelle Stowe.

Michelle Stowe, founder and director of Connect RP, a service for teachers and schools which offers training and support in co-creating relational schools communities, talks about her experience of working with schools, the obstacles and enablers of whole school implementation, how to support participants in the shift of culture RP require and the lessons she gathered from her vast experience.  For more information about Connect RP: https://www.connectrp.ie/

07-14
53:26

S2 Ep12: Episode 12: Towards Restorative Practices as business as usual in the education system, the Professional Development Service for Teachers, PDST, Kate O’Neill.

Kate O’Neill, acting team leader for the primary health and well-being team in the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST), talks about the work the PDST does to train teachers and support RP implementation in schools.  For more information about PDST: https://pdst.ie/

07-07
39:49

S2 Ep11: Episode 11: Restorative teaching in secondary schools, Tom McGauley, James O’Loughlin and Ciara O’Byrne.

Tom McGauley, James O’Loughlin and Ciara O’Byrne, teachers at Casltenock College in Dublin, talk about their training and journey in RP, the shift in mindset and culture that it fosters, their practices, modelling or explicitly teaching RP, the challenges they meet and what they learn from them.

06-30
46:42

S2 Ep10: Episode 10: Restorative teaching in primary schools, Brian Fox and Becky Ryan.

Brian Fox and Becky Ryan are back in this episode. While episode 8 was focusing on the whole school implementation process, in this one, they talk about their personal journey in RP, their training, the shift in mindset and culture that it fosters, their practices, modelling or explicitly teaching RP, the challenges they meet and what they learn from them. 

06-23
20:57

S2 Ep9: The power of the restorative circle, St Mark Primary School in Dublin.

Niamh Fowler, Deirdre Lavelle, teachers, and some of their 3rd class students talk about the power of the circle to build relationships.   For more information about the school: https://saintmarks.ie/

06-16
20:20

S2 Ep8: Episode 8: Restorative Practices in the long run, St Ultan’s primary school in Dublin.

Brian Fox and Becky Ryan, teachers in St Ultan’s primary school in Dublin, talk about how RP was introduced ten years ago. They share reflections on their experience in the long run, the ups and downs of implementation, what worked, what did not work and the progressive building up of a whole school culture.  For more information about the school: https://www.stultans.ie/

06-09
34:01

S2 Ep7: Episode 7: Restorative teaching at Third Level Education, Dr Ian Marder.

In this episode, Dr Ian Marder, Assistant Professor in Criminology at Maynooth University, talks about restorative and relational pedagogy and how he has embedded RP in his teaching.  References: Article: Marder, I., Vaugh, T., Kenny, C., Dempsey, S., Savage, E., Weiner, R., Duffy, K. & Hughes, G. (2022) “Enabling student participation in course review and redesign: piloting restorative practices and design thinking in an undergraduate criminology programme”, Journal of Criminal Justice Education, 33(4), 526-547. Video: “Restorative approaches to teaching and learning in higher education”, Irish Universities Association, Digital Education Community workshop series (9 May 2022; video here). Video: “Using circles in higher education classrooms: impact, applications, design”, Restorative Justice Pedagogy Network, training video (28 March 2022; video here; slides here). Video: “Restorative approaches to designing restorative justice assessments in higher education”, Restorative Justice Pedagogy Network, workshop (22 April 2021; video here).

06-02
31:09

S2 Ep6: Episode 6: Belvedere Youth Club, towards a restorative hub in the community.

In this episode, James Bowes, Restorative Practices coordinator, Jonathan Dowling, Youth Work team leader, Dean Murray, Youth worker from Belvedere Youth Club (BYC) in North East Inner City, Dublin, talk about the journey the youth club, staff and young people, have undertaken to become a restorative hub in the community. You will also hear some of the young people.  For more information about BYC: https://www.belvedereyouthclub.ie/

05-26
36:18

S2 Ep5: Episode 5: Training young people in Restorative Practice, a Cabra For Youth project.

A group of young practitioners hosts this episode from Cabra for Youth in Dublin: Charlie, Sophie, Jasmine, April and Briana, and you will also hear their project Leader Mary Carol. They talk about RP in the Youth Service and the training they have undertaken.  For more information about Cabra for Youth: https://cabraforyouth.ie/

05-19
12:47

S2 Ep4: Episode 4: Clare Youth Service and the Kilrush project: Restorative Practices at the heart of the community.

In this episode, Brian McManus, Youth Work Manager in Clare Youth Service, Adriona Meere, youth justice worker in Kilrush and a young person she works with, talk about their work and experience and what RP bring to the core relational element of youth work. An exciting project is also presented: the steps undertaken by Kilrush toward becoming a Restorative town.  For more information: http://www.clareyouthservice.org/

05-12
28:39

S2 Ep3: Episode 3: Delivering Training and living and parenting with Restorative Practice, Joe Power.

In this episode, Joe Power, RP development Officer for Limerick and RP Quality Specialist with CDI, talks about his work, the training he delivers to teachers and youth workers, restorative parenting, and how RP is part of his day-to-day life as a father of 3. For more information about Joe’s work and approach: http://www.restorativepracticeslimerick.ie/blog

05-05
26:42

S2 Ep2: Episode 2: From Restorative Justice to Restorative Practice, Kieran O’Dwyer, 20 years of involvement in the field.

In this episode, Kieran O’Dwyer, Restorative Practice Quality Specialist with the Childhood Development Initiative and Chairperson of Restorative Practices Ireland (RPI), talks about his broad experience of Restorative Justice and Restorative Practices, the work that RPI does and the goals and plans for the future of RP In Ireland. For more information about RPI’s work: https://www.restorativepracticesireland.ie/

04-28
33:38

S2 Ep1: Episode 1: Childhood Development Initiative, a restorative organisation.

In this episode, Claire Casey, the Restorative Practice Programme Manager and George Best, the RP Programme Coordinator, talk about the implementation of RP in CDI as an organisation, what impact it had and what it means to work in a restorative organisation. For more information about CDI’s work: https://www.cdi.ie/

04-21
30:00

S1 Ep14: Episode 14: Restorative Practices at Home

This episode, the last of the season, is a collection of reflections and stories from participants in our previous episodes about how they are using Restorative Practices at home, the impact it has and the challenges it presents. Find out more at cdi.ie

08-28
30:58

S1 Ep13: Episode 13: Restorative practices in Oberstown Children Detention Campus

In this episode Brian Hogan, campus deputy director of Oberstown Children Detention Campus,  Selenna Reilly young person programme manager, Oisin Dunne, Pauline Towey and Sam Maund, residential care workers, talk about their work, the implementation of Restorative Practices in the campus, its challenges, the way it impacts on their practices, on the young people under their care  and the vision they have for Oberstown in the future. 

08-21
30:51

S1 Ep12: Episode 12: A Restorative Secondary School - Part Two

In this episode, Claire Matthews, Principal of Firhouse Educate Together Secondary School who opened in August 2018 with a restorative ethos and vision, Andrew Moloney, Deputy Principal, Aisling O’Neill, Student Support Assistant, Carol Flynn, Secretary, Charlene Nolan, a 1st year student mother and three 2nd Year Students, Maïssa, Millie and Amy explain how the school community sees and lives the relationships between all its members and how everyone is supported to be their best self.

07-03
30:13

S1 Ep11: Episode 11: A restorative Secondary School - Part One

In this episode, Claire Matthews, Principal of Firhouse Educate Together Secondary School who opened in August 2018 with a restorative ethos and vision, Andrew Moloney, Deputy Principal, Aisling O’Neill, Student Support Assistant, Carol Flynn, Secretary, Charlene Nolan, a 1st year student mother and three 2nd Year Students, Maïssa, Millie and Amy explain how the restorative culture in the school was created and what tools help to maintain it. 

06-26
33:57

S1 Ep10: Episode 10: Restorative Practices in school, a teacher’s point of view

In this episode, John Madigan, a primary school teacher,  shares his personal and professional journey with RP, how they are embedded in his teaching role and what he recommends for schools who are interested in implementing them. 

06-19
36:58

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