Conference Overview
The 2025 AGM and Conference was a day to remember — a moment when the Craniosacral community came together under our new name, CranioSacral Ireland, for the very first time.
Held on 11 October 2025 at the beautiful Solas Bhríde Centre & Hermitages in Kildare, the event marked both the official launch of our new identity and the beginning of a new chapter in our shared journey.
We were delighted to welcome therapists from across the country — experienced practitioners, newly qualified members, students, and retired colleagues — along with guests and individuals interested in studying Craniosacral Therapy.
It was a day filled with connection, reflection, and pride in how far we have come, and with excitement for the future we are building together.
For the full AGM & conference report, see below.
AGM – Year of Growth and Renewal
The Annual General Meeting opened the day with a deep sense of reflection and achievement. Chairperson Mairéad Lavan reflected on how far the Association has come in strengthening its foundation and visibility over the past year, and acknowledged the CranioSacral Ireland team and volunteers, whose dedication and teamwork throughout the year have laid the groundwork for this success.
Key milestones included:
• The successful rebrand to CranioSacral Ireland, with a new website, membership platform, and refreshed visual identity that reflect the professionalism, and warmth of our community.
• Steady growth in membership, with strong engagement from both existing and new members.
• Major progress in the Accreditation Programme, with Upledger Institute Ireland and Visionary Craniosacral Training achieving full accreditation, and Body College continuing its journey toward completion.
• Continued work to strengthen governance, communication, and CPD structures, ensuring that the Association continues to meet high professional standards and provides meaningful support to members.
Together, these developments reflected a significant step forward, positioning CranioSacral Ireland as a confident, professional, and forward-looking organisation within the wider field of complementary healthcare.
CranioSacral Ireland Team: Raymond Kelly, Deirdre Mooney, Mairéad Lavan, Lorraine Houlihan, Orla Cunningham, Helen Carberry, Louise Kane Buckley, George Rickard.
Absent: Ruth Smith & Dermot Kinsella
The Inaugural Conference – Cultivating Stillness, Expression, and Presence
The conference offered an inspiring and nourishing programme that reflected the depth and diversity of Craniosacral practice today.
Rather than a single theme, the sessions wove together a shared thread — presence, embodiment, and creative connection — inviting therapists to return to the heart of their work with renewed awareness and stillness.
Hosted by members of the CranioSacral Ireland team, the day was enriched by reflections linking each presentation with the Association’s broader vision and values.
As part of the conference opening, Chairperson Mairéad Lavan spoke about the creation of a special reflective space within the venue:
“At the heart of our gathering, we have created a Hearth of Healing — a creative space of light and nature, connecting this spiritual venue, the practice of Craniosacral Therapy, and our community.”
She also shared a line from the late writer and broadcaster Manchán Magan, whose words resonated deeply with the spirit of the day:
“The bogs, rivers, mountains, and shorelines are more than preservers of old myths, bones, and memories. They are energy banks and time sponges, and what is held within them seeks release.”
The space offered a quiet and welcoming focal point throughout the day — a place to pause, breathe, and reconnect between sessions.
The conference opened with a gentle centering meditation led by Deirdre Mooney, drawing on the spirit of Brigid and the land at Solas Bhríde, which beautifully wove together intention and connection. Following the meditation, Deirdre invited attendees to write on a card a word of felt sense, archetype, or intention, placing these at the Hearth of Healing to set a grounded and unified tone for the day.
Hearth of Healing
From that still centre, the conference unfolded through a series of inspiring presentations and experiential sessions, each offering its own perspective on stillness, embodiment, and healing.
We began with David McCauley VCSW®, whose session The Heart of Listening: Cultivating Stillness for Therapeutic Presence invited participants to explore inner stillness as a foundation for authentic therapeutic connection. Through guided centering and reflection, David encouraged therapists to notice how presence, grounding, and self-awareness can deepen their clinical work and support both client and practitioner. His session was received as a profoundly grounding and affirming reminder of the importance of inner quiet in therapeutic life.
The tone then shifted to one of joyful exploration with Sadhbh O’Sullivan’s uplifting group session The Embodied Voice (collaborated with Ruth Smith BCST). Blending voice, movement, and somatic awareness, Sadhbh led participants in gentle exploration through sound and breath, reminding us how creativity and embodiment support wellbeing. Delivered with warmth and openness, it offered both joy and emotional release — a truly connective experience for the whole group.
In Return to Health, Jane Shaw BCST explored how Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy can support chronic health conditions through gentle relational touch and a non-judging witness. Drawing on emerging research into autonomic nervous system regulation and autoimmune disorders, Jane illuminated how Craniosacral approaches may contribute to recovery and resilience in conditions such as chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel disease. Her session was both evidence-informed and deeply compassionate.
The afternoon concluded with Brian Peoples CST-D, whose presentation Reflections from Practice: Approaches to Somato Emotional Release offered a thoughtful exploration of working with both the conscious and non-conscious experience of the client. He shared insights from study, clinical practice, and teaching — touching on the Avenue of Expression, mouthwork, and the importance of clarity and sensitivity in therapeutic dialogue. The session offered both practical guidance and deep reflection, resonating strongly with practitioners across all levels of experience.
David McCauley VCSW®, Brian Peoples CST-D, Jane Shaw BCST
Sadhbh O’Sullivan
As the day unfolded, a beautiful realisation emerged — something that feels truly distinctive about CranioSacral Ireland.
While our community is diverse, there is a shared connection to this land and its heritage, which seems to gently shape how we practise and relate.
Throughout the conference, this could be felt in subtle and powerful ways — through the language, song, poetry, storytelling, and movement that found their place alongside stillness and touch.
It reminded us that the spirit of Craniosacral Therapy in Ireland carries a deep relationship with nature and culture — rooted in presence, creativity, and a heartfelt sense of belonging.
Community and Celebration
Throughout the day, there was a tangible sense of warmth, generosity, and shared purpose. Conversations flowed easily over tea and scones, with new connections forming between therapists, students, and guests from across the country.
A special feature of the event was the charity raffle in aid of the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation, raising €1,910 to support families who care for children with complex medical and life-limiting conditions.
This contribution represents over 106 hours of specialised in-home nursing care — a powerful reflection of the generosity and compassion within our community.
The raffle was a wonderful success, thanks to the support of our members and sponsors, who contributed an impressive range of prizes — from wellness products and therapy vouchers to artisan gifts and overnight stays.
We extend heartfelt thanks to all who contributed prizes, whose support helped make the event such a success.
By the close of the conference, there was a strong sense that something important had taken root — a renewed energy and unity among our members, and a shared pride in what CranioSacral Ireland stands for.
As our Chairperson reflected in the conference closing, “It felt like coming home” — to our practice, our community, ourselves, and the land that holds us.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed — our speakers, volunteers, sponsors, and all who attended in person or in spirit — for making this landmark day such a memorable and inspiring success.
Special thanks also to the team at Solas Bhríde Centre & Hermitages, whose beautiful space and gentle hospitality provided the perfect setting for our gathering.
