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The Irish American Partnership has supported not only the production of this important work, but also committed to making Ionbhá: The Empathy Book for Ireland available at every secondary school in Ireland.
Ionbhá or empathy is a core element of wisdom and a universal language bringing joy to the everyday, making the unbearable bearable. “We need empathy in schools just as we need empathy in the world right now,” said actor Cillian Murphy, Patron of the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre, and editor of the book.
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, the Irish American Partnership has supported the production of the book, and also committed to making Ionbhá: The Empathy Book for Ireland available to every secondary school in Ireland.
CEO Mary Sugrue speaking at the launch in Croke Park, Dublin.
The Ionbhlá book inception began with Activating Social Empathy, an interactive, student-focused, social and emotional learning program developed by Dr. Ciara Boylan and Professor Dolan in 2017 as a resource tool for post-primary schools. The Irish American Partnership found an opportunity to support this critical and innovative program. In delving into the research and through extensive conversations with its leaders, the organization believes that “Empathy education is not an add-on—it is the heartbeat of who we are and needs to be a priority for our young people going forward,” as contributor and secondary school teacher Hugh Fitzmaurice captures in the Ionbha book.
“Empathy can offer an embrace to difference, and can bring connection in a disconnected world.” – Cillian Murphy
Empathy education in schools aims to help reduce bullying, discrimination, racial profiling and violence, and increase young peoples’ sense of belonging in school. It is being piloted in Ireland, and is part of an international project that will be rolled out in the US, Canada, Nigeria, Myanmar, France, Cameroon, and Tunisia. In the words of Patron Cillian Murphy, empathy “can offer an embrace to difference, and can bring connection in a disconnected world.”
“We are on the cusp of the development of empathy as a core part of education systems which will benefit not just youth but civic society as a whole,” said Professor Pat Dolan, Director of the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre at NUI Galway.
This collection of contributions shows that empathetic actions have a massive impact. Irish secondary school students will be empowered to emulate the many compelling examples of activated empathy throughout the pages. 89 contributors include Ireland’s President Michael D. Higgins, Hozier, The Edge, Imelda May, and citizens from all walks of life, including Irish American Partnership Chief Executive, Mary Sugrue.
The Partnership congratulates our partners, editors Cillian Murphy, Professor Pat Dolan, Gillian Browne, and Professor Mark Brennan, and all of the fellow contributors on this wonderful production – a collection of essays that will inspire empathy across Ireland and beyond.