Clodagh McCarthy

I began my professional life as a graduate of International Commerce from UCC  with a student programme organised by Invest Northerm and luckily found myself working in Marks and Spencer Head office in their buying department for children.

At the same time, I was volunteering with young people in a local school and a local church programme to support young people explore their faith. Through this work, it became obvious to me that my heart was pulling me in a new direction professionally and so began a journey of retraining, learning and growing.  

I trained as a Life Coach through Tipperary Institute, an International Coach Federation (ICF)  approved Programme in 2009 and parallel to this began my own journey with Mindfulness attending a weekly sangha in the Sanctuary in Dublin and began my training journey with the Centre for Mindfulness in Boston to train to teach MBSR. In addition, I began to explore Mindfulness for Young People with Susan Kaiser. Over the years, I have completed many different training in Mindfulness developing my learning both in the classroom and on my cushion 

My work

I began my work under the name Bright Sparks Coaching in 2009 with the intention of bringing mindfulness into schools and educational settings to support both staff and students learn the gift of Mindfulness as a means for self care and self discovery.

 For many years, I offered courses for teachers through various education centres around Ireland including Drumcondra, Cork, West Cork, Navan and Wicklow.  Myself and a colleague Anne Twohig created one of the first approved Summer mindfulness courses for primary school teachers in 2010. 

I was honoured to be part of Steering group created by St Stan at the Sanctuary gathering a group of people together to explore how we support the development of mindfulness into the curriculum here in Ireland.  I taught a Mindfulness workshop at the IPPN Conference – Irish Primary Principals Conference 

I also began to teach MBSR Courses in Cork and Dublin for the general public as well for teachers and healthcare professionals.  I offered short introduction to Mindfulness Sessions in the workplace in UCC, UL and with  The Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin 

With the birth of my two children in more recent years, my attention has moved to explore how mindfulness can support parents and families to grow well together.  This has brought with it more opportunities for learning and retraining. 

I was honoured to be given a scholarship to train to teach the Mindfulness Childbirth & Parenting Course and Mindfulness in Early Course through the Mindful Birthing Foundation in 2022 which I completed in 2024.

My Own Practice  

As I continue my own growth and development as a parent and as a fellow human being, my practice has changed over the years but the qualities of mindfulness remain a constant support to me in my daily life.

Through the years as I have explored and attended various retreats in many different traditions and forms from Zen to Buddist, centering prayer and christian,  I have found that the practice has lead me back to explore the practice of mindfulness and meditation more fully in my own tradition given at birth.

In more recent times, I have explored the practice of Insight Dialogue which I find to be a highly practical and useful way of integrating mindfulness in my daily life and daily interactions  and relationships. 

My practice is Silence.. sitting.. being with is with as much kindness and care as I can to myself and to others in my interactions.  The practice of Mindfulness has healed my body, opened my heart and enriched my life beyond measure.  I am grateful daily for the wisdom to know  when a pause is needed and so thankful for the gifts and insights that come when sit, open and look within