About Orlaith

About Orlaith

Orlaith has been practicing mindfulness for over 22 years in the tradition of Plum Village / Thich Nhat Hanh. She teaches mindfulness internationally to all ages and has created several initiatives to share mindfulness in fun and creative ways.

She teaches mindfulness to children up to 14 years on the virtual learning platform Adventure2Learning.

Her courses Mindful Family, Strengths to Thrive (for teens), and Cultivating Happiness were the first courses of their kind in Ireland. These courses are founded on learning together as a family, blending mindfulness and character strengths and positive neuroplasticity. She is founder of four mindfulness community groups (two based in Dublin city for adults and for children, and two international online groups, for adults and for families).

In Ireland, Orlaith works directly with NEPS (National Educational Psychological Service), HSA, HSE, parents’ associations and after-school groups. She works with the pupils, staff and parents of schools, including: Saplings School (Kildare), John Scottus (Ballsbridge), Holy Faith (Clontarf), St Sylvester’s (Malahide), Fingal Community College (Swords) and Coláiste Dhúlaigh (Coolock).

She is International Co-ordinator for Wake Up Schools, an international grass-roots movement to support teachers and create mindful educational communities. Orlaith is also a founder member of the Community for Contemplative Education, an initiative of Mind & Life Europe.

Orlaith co-produced Ireland’s first mindfulness retreat for educators in 2018 and the world’s first online retreat for families with Plum Village monastics in 2020. She was also a co-organiser of Family Day - Ireland's largest celebration of the diversity of the family in Ireland today.

She is an advisor to the World Happiness Festival and speaks regularly at conferences, including the Mindful Kids Peace Summit, Mindfulness in Education Summit and various mindfulness in education conferences.

She was an editor/reader for the award-winning textbook ‘Happy Teachers Change the World: A Guide to Integrating Mindfulness in Education’ by Prof. Katherine Weare and Thich Nhat Hanh.

Orlaith is an experienced and passionate teacher. She holds a PhD in English from Trinity College, Dublin, and is known for weaving poetry into her practice. She is a leader in Mindfulness & Strengths and is also a certified teacher in Rainbow Kids Yoga. She was Child Protection Officer when working with Devon County Council in the UK; she was trained in Child Protection and holds a recent Garda Clearance.