Belvedere College SJ
PER VIAS RECTAS
PER VIAS RECTAS
Parents Talks
The Parents’ Association organises guest talks that tie in with and support the College’s pastoral programme for students. These events are either in person or virtual and information on the events is circulated in advance to parents and guardians on Compass and by email.
Guest speakers with expertise relevant to the Students’ pastoral calendar are invited by the Parents’ Association 2 or 3 times each year.
The Parents’ Association also may arrange social events, such as the Elements Parents social evening or last year’s James Joyce Evening – a Celebration of the Joyce’s connections with the College
Past talks include:
Parents Talk No. 1 2025/2026
Shelton Abbey Open Prison
15 minutes of Madness
A Conversation on Life, Changes, and Second Chances
The first parents talk of this school year took place on the 8th of October in the Chapel and was a collaboration between the Ignation Group and the Parents Association.Joe Donohue, the Governor of Shelton
Abbey Open Prison, spoke openly about his insights into managing the prison, the challenges, and his experiences navigating the balance between security and rehabilitation.
Shay Wildes shared a powerful and deeply personal story of his journey through incarceration, his transition to Shelton Abbey, and the challenges and triumphs of life after release. Thi talk captivated the audience and sparked an insightful Q&A session.
Parents Talk No. 2 2025/2026
Understanding and Addressing (Cyber) Bullying
A Guide for Parents
The second parents’ talk of this school year took place on the 12th of
November in the Lecture Theatre.
We were delighted to welcome Isabel Machado Da Silva, Assistant Professor of Sociology and a Doctoral Candidate at the DCU Anti-Bullying Centre and the School of Human Development. The talk helped parents and schools feel confident in protecting children as they navigate the challenges of an increasingly digital world. Isabel spoke on the latest research and explored how young people experience and articulate their need for support, emphasising the types of support that are most valuable in navigating online challenges and preventing cyberbullying.
Further information can be found at https://antibullyingcentre.ie
Parents Talk No. 3 2025/2026
Presenter – Richie Sadlier
Richie Sadlier is a former professional football, sports pundit, and
adolescent psychotherapist.
Let’s Talk SPHE is led by Richie Sadlier and was created to help
schools deliver modern, inclusive and impactful SPHE.
This talk included selected insights from therapy practice – and
parents’ experiences.
It covered the prevalence and impact of online influencers and the
availability and accessibility of online porn, and the impact these
can have on adolescent development and relationships.
The first PA talk for the 2024/2025 academic year took place on 29th January 2025 in person in Belvedere College. The topics were Alcohol Use In Ireland and Alcohol/Drugs and resources to reduce their risk. There were two guest speakers Professor Frank Murray – Past Parent of Belvedere College and Professor Bobby Smyth.
Professor FRANK MURRAY MD FRCPI is Gastroenterologist/Hepatologist in Dublin for 25 years. He served as President of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI). He initiated and chaired the Alcohol Policy Group in Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI), and led the alcohol advocacy programme in RCPI, contributing to the passage of the Public Health Alcohol Act, 2018.
Professor BOBBY SMYTH is a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist (Substance Use) at Adolescent Addiction. He has acted as clinical lead across three adolescent addiction services in Dublin since 2003. Bobby is a Clinical Senior Lecturer with the department of Public Health & Primary Care in Trinity College Dublin. He has published over 75 scientific papers in the field of addiction.
The talk covered the following topics:
Presentation Slides click here for Frank Murray and here for Bobby Smyth.
The second PA talk was Online with Niall Boyle on 4th February 2025. Niall is an accomplished educator, educational technologist with over 15 years of experience in teaching mathematics and integrating technology in educational settings. He holds a Master’s degree in Educational Technology from the University of Tartu, Estonia, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Mathematics Education from the University of Bangor. He also has a degree in Computer Engineering from University of Limerick.
The UNESCO’s framework outlines 12 key competencies across four dimensions. It is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate an AI-driven world responsibly and effectively.
The talk will focus on first three dimensions as follows:
Presentation Slides
Prof John Sharry is a social worker and family psychotherapist with over 30 years experience as a child and adolescent mental health professional.
Click on the link for a series of six articles John has on boosting children’s esteem.
Click on the link to another series on helping children make good choices:
Click here to view Historical Talks
