ICRE News Archive

Curriculum, Engaging the voice of the Third Level RE Student, and Religious Education in the Media were some of the themes of the latest RE Lecturers' Forum which took place in Mary I, Limerick on 27th November 2015

The NCCA has launched its consultation webpage regarding the development of a curriculum in Education and Religion and Beliefs (ERB) and Ethics. This is a significant development for Irish Education and we encourage all to engage in the process.

Changes have recently been made to the membership of ICRE Advisory Board. Since its beginnings, the Centre has benefitted from the insight, work and generosity of its valued international Advisory Board.

Congratulations to Dr. John Tillson on the completion of his PhD studies at Mater Dei Institute. John was the recipient of the first ICRE PhD Scholarship and has now been appointed Teaching Fellow at St. Patrick's College, DCU

Dr. Sandra Cullen will present a paper at this year's AULRE Conference which takes place at St. Mary's, Twickenham from 1st - 3rd September. Her paper is entitled "Interpreting between spheres: Religious education as a conversational activity".

Congratulations to Anne Hession on the publication of her latest book 'Catholic Primary Education in a Pluralist Environment'. It was launched by Dr. Dermot Lane in St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra on 28th April 2015

The first ICRE RE Lecturers' and Researchers' Colloquium took place at Mater Dei Institute on Friday 20th March 2015. There were nine presentations with each and every one launching engaging discussions.

The ICRE Advisory Board was delighted to welcome Dr. Peter Schreiner on 6th March 2015. Dr. Schreiner, led an engaging session on RE in the European context, and how this relates to the current issues in RE in Ireland.

The ICRE is privileged to host Ms. Simona Sav as our visiting researcher / international reader from January to April 2015. We look forward to working together and learning about religious education in her native Romania

The RTAI is once again providing a day of preparation for students preparing for Leaving Certificate RE. The 2016 titles will be the focus of this year's event, taking place in Mater Dei Institute on 7th February 2015

St. Angela's College, Sligo, hosted the fifth gathering of the RE Lecturers's Forum. The beautiful location overlooking Lough Gill was the setting for a packed day of reflecting, discussing and planning. Exciting initiatives are ahead

Congratulations and best wishes to Dr. Mary Shanahan, St. Angela's College, Sligo on the publication of her latest work entitled 'An Ethics of / for the Future?'

Heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Dermot Lane on his conferral of an Honorary Doctorate from Dublin City University in recognition of his immense contribution to Religious Education and Theology

From 17th - 19th October 2014, Dr. Brad Anderson took part in this prestigious international conference in Montenegro. The conference was co-sponsored by the Universities of Vienna and Montenegro as well as the Islamic community in Montenegro

Best wishes to the 2014 intake of students commencing study on the Professional Doctoral Programme of Education (RE Pathway). We look forward to working with you.

On 3rd July 2014, Dr. Gareth Byrne, co-ordinator of the ICRE, wrote in the Irish Times about how Religious Education can help create a cohesive society

"A New Vision of Education for the Children of Ireland" was launched last Friday by Minister Ruairi Quinn TD. The report highlights the significant efforts of all four institutes in the incorporation process that deeply affects Teacher Education and Religion

A well attended forum took place on Friday 9th May. Over twenty people involved in RE at Third Level explored the current context and challenges to RE with the generous assistance of Prof. John Sullivan.

On 10th April 2014, Minister for Education and Skills, Mr. Ruairi Quinn, TD, launched the latest publication of ICRE Advisory Board member, Dr. Caroline Renehan: "Openness with Roots: Education in Religion in Irish Primary Schools".

A great day was had by all who attended the RE Lecturers Forum in Belfast. We appreciate the input of a variety of speakers on different topics pertinent to RE in Ireland today.

Warm congratulations to Dr. Sandra Cullen, at the conferral of her PhD on 15th November 2013. The title of her thesis was "Toward an Appropriate Religious Education for Future Teachers of Religious Education: Principles for a Religious Education Approach

"This year's National RE Congress will be held at Mater Dei on 5 October 2013. The one-day programme is specifically geared towards school-based religious education, with workshops of interest to both primary and post-primary teachers.

President Michael D Higgins has called for a new ethical and philosophical approach to economic policy during an address at Dublin City University. The lecture, delivered as part of the Ethics For All Public Lecture series organised by Mater Dei Institute

Dr Gareth Byrne and Sandra Cullen both presented at the recent conference on RE held at University College Cork, entitled 'RE21: Religious Education in a Global-Local World'. The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn, launched the conference.

Dr Patricia Kieran, Lecturer in Religious Education at Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, and a member of the Advisory Board for the ICRE, recently visited the European Wergeland Centre in Oslo, Noway.

The ICRE would like to congratulate the cohort of postgraduate students who have just completed their first year of research in the Professional Doctorate with a Pathway in Religious Education.

Dr Gareth Byrne, Coordinator of the ICRE, recently contributed to the John Marcus O'Sullivan Summer School on 20-21 June 2013 at the University of Limerick.

On Friday 7 June 2013, the ICRE and Mater Dei Institute hosted an evening with Professor Graham Rossiter of the Australian Catholic University. The title for Prof Rossiter's talk was "The changing landscape of contemporary spirituality and implications fo

On Saturday 13 April 2013, second level students from all over Ireland came together at Mater Dei Institute to look at issues related to the Religious Education Leaving Certificate Coursework.

Toward Mutual Ground: Pluralism, Religious Education and Diversity in Irish Schools, the new release edited by Dr Gareth Byrne and Dr Patricia Kieran, was launched on Friday 26 April by Prof John Coolahan.

"You are cordially invited to the launch of Toward Mutual Ground: Pluralism, Religious Education and Diversity in Irish Schools, edited by Gareth Byrne and Patricia Kieran.The book will be launched by Prof John Coolahan on Friday 26 April at 17.15 in S"

"The Place of Religion and Beliefs in the Primary School Curriculum: Educating the 21st Century Child You are cordially invited to attend the above conference in St Patrick's College, Drumcondra which will be held on Friday evening and Saturday morning of"

The ICRE was recently represented by Sandra Cullen at a colloquy on Religious Education held at the Chateau de Klingenthal, Alsace (8-12 October 2012) organised by the Inter-European Commission on Church and School (ICCS) and the Coordinating Group for Re

Dr Gareth Byrne recently did an interview for Soul Waves radio on Religious Education in primary schools, touching on a number of issues that make this a complex subject in the current context.

On Friday, 12 October 2012, Mater Dei Institute and the ICRE held a launch for the new Pathway in Religious Education, a stream in the professional doctorate (EdD) offered collaboratively by DCU and MDI.

If you're interested in issues related to RE, make sure to follow the ICRE online at Facebook and Twitter, where we frequently post updates on news and events.

MDI is pleased to announce a newly launched pathway in RE in the professional doctorate (EdD) offered in conjunction with the School of Education Studies, Dublin City University (DCU), to commence in September 2012. There are a number of scholarships available

The ICRE was delighted to help organise the recent conference on religious pluralism in Irish education, held at Mary Immaculate College, Limerick. The conference was a great success and the setting for much dialogue and learning.

The third annual RTAI coursework day for leaving certificate RE students took place at Mater Dei Institute of Education on Saturday 28 January 2012. Over 70 participants gathered to address key academic questions underlying this year's Religious Education

The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairi Quinn TD, joined policy makers, educators, and other specialists from Ireland and from Europe on Friday 21 October to discuss the future of Religious Education. The Irish Centre for Religious Education (ICRE)

"The Irish Centre for Religious Education (ICRE) is pleased to announce a one day conference at Mater Dei Institute to be held on Friday 21st October, bringing religious education, education, and diversity into conversation."

"The Institute's Irish Centre for Religious Education has obtained private funding for the appointment of a Research and Development Officer on the basis of a two year part-time fixed term contract. "

MDI congratulates our colleague, Dr. Gareth Byrne, on the publication of the 'Share the Good News', the first National Directory for Catechesis published by the Irish Catholic Bishops Conference. Dr. Byrne conducted research, funded by the Bishops Conference.