Spirituality Institute for Research and Education

In Dublin, Ireland, today, in a packed to capacity events room in The Gibson Hotel, there was a wonderful celebration of The Silver Jubilee of postgraduate studies in Applied Spirituality in and from Ireland.
The photo shows Tara Travers, PhD candidate, Dr Noelia Molina, the current MA programme Leader, and Michael Punch who was a lecturer in UCD - all of whom had done MA studies in Applied Spirituality in All Hallows College, Milltown Institute, and South East Technological University respectively - being interviewed by Andrea Hayes, about their experience and the story behind what led them to undertake such studies.
Andrea is also a graduate of the MA programme and a trustee of the Spirituality Institute for Research and Education (SpIRE) that organised the historic celebratory event.
Andrea also interviewed Dr Bernadette Flanagan and Dr Michael O'Sullivan, who are national and international leadership links in these studies across the twenty-five years, and who are the co-founders of SpIRE.
Michael gave the background to the emergence of SpIRE and explained the significance of the spelling of the name, which is an acronym.
Dr Suzanne Denieffe, Head of the School of Humanities from South East Technological University (SETU) , gave a stirring commendation regarding these MA and PhD studies, and spirituality research group, at the University, and of SpIRE which hosts and resources these studies at the Jesuit Centre in Dublin.
Dr John Philip Newell, a leading Celtic spirituality scholar from Scotland,, gave a most inspiring and visionary keynote address to the 150 graduates, faculty, and donors to SpIRE.

An Irish Humanities Alliance conference on Unsilencing Health Care, hosted at South East Technological University (SETU), Waterford, Ireland, from Sept 3-4, will explore how voices, bodies, and practices, are heard, silenced, or transformed within medicine and healthcare. Abstracts are due by Mon, 16th March. Please send your abstract to the following link: https://www.cognitoforms.com/SETU10/IHAAbstracts
For more info, please see:
https://www.irishhumanities.ie/news-events/events/call-for-papers
If you have any queries, please contact the conference team at [email protected]

WomanSpiritIreland is holding an event to celebrate the spirit of Brigid.
Full draft programme on this site:
https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/brigit-festival-2026-brigits-blessings-healing-and-peace-weaving-tickets-1977816583643

The Spirituality Institute for Research and Education (SpIRE) is offering two fees scholarships for the MA in Applied Spirituality programme in 2026-2027 (https://spiritualityinstitute.ie/ma-applied-spirituality/). If interested, please contact [email protected] Applications have to be received by Jan 15.

Pictured in the photo with the leadership team of the world-leading MA in Applied Spirituality programme are some of the 2024-25 graduates who could make it to the ceremony in South East Technological University, Waterford, on Thursday. The MA takes place every year at the Spirituality Institute for Research and Education (SpIRE) in Dublin. Applications are now being sought for 2026-27 (the 2025-26 began last September). See the SpIRE website at https://spiritualityinstitute.ie/ma-applied-spirituality/or for info about the 2026-27 programme, and testimonials of graduates at the foot of the Home page at https://spiritualityinstitute.ie/

This year the twenty-fifth birthday of Spiritus is being celebrated & it is great to see experience from Ireland regarding offering Spirituality Studies included through the contributions of colleague Bernadette Flanagan in thie silver jubilee issue and the 14 years of Michael O'Sullivan's continuing service on the Editorial Board. Both Bernadette and Michael have also contributed significant articles to the journal over the years. Michael's most recent article is his SSCS presidential address in the 2025 spring issue, which is available for free on open access at https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/article/956945

This new volume affords an opportunity to reflect on the journal’s rather remarkable trajectory, and to honor those who have contributed so much to its flourishing during its first quarter-century of publication.

Over the years, Spiritus has been privileged to publish rigorous essays and reviews, evocative images, and poetry for contemplation by an exceptionally generative community of scholars.

And we will always also be grateful to the Johns Hopkins University Press collaborators, who have labored behind the scenes year after year to help produce something worthwhile.

During the past 25 years, Spiritus has enjoyed a front-row seat while the study of Christian spirituality, as a distinct and self-conscious academic discipline, has emerged, evolved, and matured. But Spiritus has done more than merely observe what has been taking place independently of its existence. To some extent at least, it has also helped to shape this history through the seminal research and writing of its authors and contributors. As the official journal of the Society for the Study of Christian Spirituality (SSCS), Spiritus has functioned as both observer and participant in the evolution of a discipline.

Flor O'Mahony, a 2020-21 graduate of the MA in Applied Spirituality, participated in the Internal Development Goals Summit 2025 in Stockholm. Flor says the IDG Summit was a fantastic experience and brought together wonderful people from all over the world who are trying bold initiatives to transform communities and make a better world. Flor will now endeavour to see how to bring the IDG movement into his workplace in some way since IDGs are necessary to realize the UN SDGs (Sustainable Devleopment Goals).
Pictured in the photo with Flor is Maureen Gikonyo, Kenya, who was a Speaker at the Summit.

Recently, SpIRE hosted an academic discussion about the Impact of religious and spiritual practices on urban coastal environments (IRUCE) with the Project Leads, Prof Mario Katić, Department of Ethnology and Anthropology, Zadar, Croatia, Prof Pablo Vidal-González, Hiking and Mountain Sports Research Group, Valencia, Spain, and Dr Bernadette Flanagan, Spirituality in Society & Professions Research Group, SETU, Ireland. Dr Helen Murphy, Executive Lead of the EU-CONEXUS European University Alliance at SETU and EU-CONEXUS Education Co-Lead at SETU and Keith Byrne, Learning Technologist @ SETU joined the discussion. Dr Murphy presented on the EU Conexus alliance on micro-credentials. Dr Noelia Molina, MA in Applied Spirituality Programme Leader, Dr Michael O'Sullivan, SpIRE Director, and PhD Cand. Sue Saunders also took part in some of the discussion.

Rev David White, a graduate of the unique MA in Applied Spirituality, will lead a retreat in October in An Tairseach based on the research he did for his MA. His book, The Gardened Soul: The Emotional Connection to More, will be launched on
Saturday 8 November at 11 am in Zion Parish Church, Bushy Park Road, Dublin 6. D06 H1X6. Music and refreshments. No booking required.

Former gardener at the National Botanic Gardens and graduate of the unique MA in Applied Spirituality, Rev’d David White, announces the launch of his book, The Gardened Soul: The Emotional Connection to More, which will take place on
Saturday 8 November at 11 am in Zion Parish Church, Bushy Park Road, Dublin 6. D06 H1X6.

Music and refreshments. No booking required.

More info below.

Brid Kennedy, author and MA graduate in Applied Spirituality, invites you to register for her upcoming event which promises to lift your spirit and soothe your soul. The the details of the event are given below.