Feedback from Speakers and Delegates

We were very happy to receive extremely positive feed back from over 200 speakers and delegates on the content and the organisation of the conference. 

The delegates themselves were nourished by the quality of the topics the speakers presented on as well as the common experience of their fellow delegates.  During the formal sessions, the speakers provided much food for thought and many delegates commented on how wonderful it was to be able to discuss these ideas with likeminded colleagues.  


Here are some examples of the feedback we received: 

(Photography: © Chinch Gryniewicz)

Dr Tony O'Brien, a consultant in palliative medicine who chaired the first day of the conference, said:
“People were constantly approaching me saying how much they had enjoyed the conference, how valuable it was and how we had achieved such a wonderful balance in the programme and a sense of inclusion. I believe that you achieved something particularly special and memorable and gave a voice to many who are striving in their own workplace to create a greater awareness of the spiritual needs of our patients and their families.

Dr Ciaran O’Boyle, who is Professor of Psychology at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, added: ”I found the mix of presentations and the interfacing of Buddhist and Western thinking absolutely absorbing, and it has given me a lot of food for thought. I also think that a lot of people at the conference, myself included, received not only academic and professional gifts, but personal gifts in the form of insights and reflections also. It was an honour to be there.” 

Kathleen O’Connor, Chaplain, UCC. ‘I must say it was a wonderful conference, very well organised. I found it very affirming. It reinforces the importance of the work that we do in pastoral care/spiritual care. So congratulations to all the team. As a result of the conference we have begun a few initiatives here in CUH. A few of us are meeting for mediation each morning at 7.20am. We also plan to have mediation available once a week to the hospital population. We also hope to plan a few sessions on spiritual care and mindfulness. So hopefully our initiatives will make a difference to the caring in the hospital.’

Dr Jonty Heaversedge – Attending the conference was the best decision I have made as a GP in a long time – both in terms of my personal development and the potential benefits for my patient s. It has highlighted a gap in my practice that I have been aware of for some time but unable to describe, I think I now have an idea of what has been missing – and even better some strategies to try and introduce changes to my practice. Thank you.

Anonymous:  This conference was a wonderful experience for me; the setting, the presentations, the participants; all came together to make it a very special and unforgettable experience. I normally leave conference mentally tired and overwhelmed; I’m leaving this emotionally and spiritually renewed and revitalised. I just started working as a psychologist with young people with cystic fibrosis and have found it so difficult to know how to be with young people who die young. There’s no intervention or text I can hide behind as a psychologist. I feel I’m starting on a journey now towards learning how to be with these young people. Thank you!

Anne Grace CNN South Tipperary Hospice: I’m working 16 years in Palliative care and this is the best conference I have attended. The organisation, speakers, setting etc were excellent. It is difficult to pick the high point as it was super from beginning to end. I can’t even imagine the hours, months and probably years it took to organise but it is evident in the detail. I look forward to the next one.

No name: I loved the attention to detail and the care taken from the graphic to the personal needs of each of us. This made the conference a very ‘whole’ experience. Hotel Europe has been a wonderful setting, with the mist, rain and sun and the lakes and hills mirroring so much of what we have been considering and our response to it. Having worked in palliative care for a number of years it has been wonderful and very surprising to hear medical doctors talk of presence and its importance – what a relief. I would have appreciated a little more space to absorb what I have heard over the past two days – it has felt quite wall-to-wall. Thank you Ally Cecile and Muireann for all your hard work and your welcome. 

Bernadette Keating: This was a fabulous conference the speakers were brilliant. Having attended many such events in the past 30 years, I can say this event was really special.

No name: Amazing! Fantastic! Wonderful. I felt so connected with everyone. Speakers – brilliant.  My only disappointment was that I would have liked to have heard Dr Tony Bates talk more (he didn’t do any lecture I would have liked that). I was touched by his humility and humanness. I felt immersed in love, patience, kindness and for me as someone who was a doctor – but left with many bad experiences and any loss of faith in people working in medicine – my faith was rekindled. There are precious, normal, people working in medicine, people who want to love and be loved, people who see the person., people who want to connect in that deep aspect in every person.

Mike Egan: It was brilliant for me. Superb presentations from very articulate, well prepared and inspirational speakers. Throughout its progress, the conference was in consistent alignment with its theme of embodying compassion and presence. Congratulations to the conference team and everyone else involved in this ground-breaking initiative. If the frequency of audience laughter is an accurate reflection of transformative engagement, then both this participant and the people with whom I laughed were truly engaged and transformed.

 Kit – Catherine McCarthy: Excellent – stimulating and refreshing! Moving and inspiring. Food for thought. I missed more meditation and stillness but appreciate time was limited… It’s so exciting to see how our society and services are turning…more open to stillness / mindfulness within the sound.

Joan Collins: Excellent conference, working as a palliative care nurse it was all very appropriate to my everyday work. Lots of food for thought. All presentations and speakers were excellent with a great international presence. The venue, organisation, accommodation, food were also excellent. Will highly recommend – looking forward to 2^nd International Conference. 

No name: It was like a spring clean. Over the last 25 years of reading this and that, completing training courses in variant forms of education counselling and psychology, I’ve never had a chance to de-clutter. It was not what I anticipated but I find I’m clearer and more empowered about my role and I really appreciate Ursula’s (picture of circles).  I also know the next path I want to travel, one I considered 20+ years ago but could not then, can now. It’s been great. I appreciate all the work and effort from inception to delivery and beyond. 

Mary Fitzgerald – Excellent, invigorating – I am a religious sister and had fears for the future of health care due to increased secularisation, less money etc, but I feel the way forward looks hopeful, as I feel staff carers will find meaningfulness in the workplace and patients will be card for with compassion. May God bless you with love and compassion. Thanks a million.   

Margaret O’Connor: A thousand “thank you’s” for organising this courageous conference, which I found incredibly nourishing, informative, engaging and equally important, full of fun which is so essential to the work we do. I feel re-energised and full of renewed energy for the journey ahead. Life lived in a mindful way is certainly a life full lived and the wonderful speakers is a testament to this. 

Peggy Cronin: (matron) Well Done!!! Excellent – in organisation, content, speakers, location. Organisation team took very great care of everything throughout the conference. Competent and compassionate in every aspect. 

Hugh Jordan (doctor): Superbly organised, great content, welcoming people. Mindfulness in the faculty and also the attendees. Lovely atmosphere of warmth and spirituality – a total pleasure. Well done to all of you in Rigpa . 

Kate Marx: The organisation – excellent. The venue – wonderful. The speakers – an honour to have listened to such a high quality. Conclusion: I feel nourished and very much enriched, but could have done with a few more days to connect at a deeper level with participants. Thank you!

John Hastings: A tremendously successful conference which was inspiring, refreshing and deeply moving. The presentations and workshops were all excellently delivered and organised.  Heartfelt thanks for helping us to refuel, connect and act in such an exciting international forum. I look forward to your next conference. 

Olwyn Ballantine (Palliative Care CNS): Where to begin! I think it will me a number of days, if not weeks, before a full realisation and understanding of the significance of all I have heard and experienced emerges, if indeed it ever does. I have found the conference inspiring, invigorating and a challenge to myself to try to become ever more present, with others and with myself. I feel very humbled and privileged, as I often do, to be a part of this work, particularly at this time, when this conference is hopefully indicative of a new and powerful more towards a more human approach to really caring for others.

Bronwen Owen (Hospice Nurse)  to all the team, without a doubt the most inspiring learning experience of my 15 years as a palliative care nurse. (of course in addition to all I have learned form my patients and families). 

Sr. Finola Kidney – The whole conference was excellent. The presenters were well prepared, delivered clearly with a deep respect and sensitivity. They each opened my mind to a whole new way of presence, listening and being. Special thanks to Ursula for her acknowledgement of the religious sisters who have gone before us. Go n’eiri an bother libh go lear

Trish Bartey (Bangor University Mindfulness Training) – Thank you for a wonderfully created, held and organised conference. It felt as if you all were engaged in doing your talks with much intention and presence. It was an inspired vision and I believe it has been very well received.