Harriett O’Mahony, Lic. I.S.H., I.S. Hom, Registered Homeopath,
East Clare Homeopathy, Lios House, Derrymore East, O’Callaghans Mills, Clare, Tel. 085-2777317. harriettomahony@gmail.com
I used to always joke amongst friends that I still hadn’t decided what I wanted to be when I ‘grew up’ and up until the age of 37, I still had no idea. I spent years in a Corporate Environment, working for large Multi-National companies, which paid the bills but it didn’t feed my soul and I knew deep down I wasn’t happy.
In 2006, a near death experience involving myself, my husband and my then very young children in Sri Lanka during the Tsunami left me in a place of darkness and depression and that I never want to return to. Upon our return to Ireland, my son’s eczema, which had developed around the 6 month mark, got really bad and I was having recurrent awful nightmares involving my kids being in danger and I was only able to look on but not reach them and get them to safety, and over and over again, I watched them being taken away from me in those nightmares. I was living in Cork at the time and somebody suggested I take my son to see a homeopath for his eczema, so I rang the Irish Society of Homeopaths, and went to see a (brilliant!) homeopath in Cork. Within 6 weeks, my son’s eczema cleared up and never returned. At this point, I was so in awe of the miraculous cure I had seen taking place, I decided to go myself, to help cope with the aftermath of the Tsunami and those nightmares that wouldn’t ever leave me alone. One single remedy and again, those nightmares never returned. That’s when I decided, at the age of 37, what I wanted to be when I grew up J
I proceeded to attend the 4 year course in Cork, full of fear and trepidation at the hugeness of what I felt I was undertaking. I must say the support I received from Angie, Gerry and all the lecturers, and the friends I have made in the past 4 years of study through college have been the most amazing part of it. I even moved back to Clare after the 1st year of college, so traveled down to Cork for lectures at weekends, but that also worked out tremendously well and I look back on those weekends with great fondness and I’m so grateful now to have found the path I’m meant to be on, its been an amazing journey for me and now but I can only say it was the best decision of my life and now, over four years later, I’m a graduate of the School and working from the comfort of my own home, during school hours, and there for my kids when they come in from school and for the first time in a very long time, happy with the knowledge that I have found my path in life.
Declan Reddy current student year 4
Homeopathy is where my Heart is
The recent economic shift offered an opportunity to have a good look at ourselves, our behaviour, direction, integrity and ability. It was within this context that I embarked on my 4-year course of study for the Licentiate to practice as a Homeopath with the Irish School of Homeopathy. It’s hard to believe that I am about to enter my final year-and what a journey it has been. Not only have my skills and knowledge base developed in studying this fascinating subject, it has also broadened my employment options, professional confidence, insight and psychological flexibility in working with people. It has not only provided me with a technique for treating people, but a “way of being” with them that is more complete, multi-dimensional and holistic.
I was already accustomed to academia, having previously achieved third level validation. However, there is no doubt that I have found the course in Homeopathy personally and professionally challenging, and well worth the effort. My 3rd year of study has afforded me the opportunity of working directly with patients as a Homeopath in training. This was supported by exceptional, consistent and intense supervision from the course tutors and graduate supervisors, in both a one-to-one and class setting, and it is this welcomed and non-intrusive support and supervision that has been instrumental in my own personal and professional growth. I look forward to my final year and the opportunity to fully implement my learning in my work practice.
Marie McQuail Moran R.G.N, R.M, R.O.N., Lic. ISH – Graduate
“Nursing is my chosen profession and I decided to study homoeopathy several years ago as I was frustrated with many of its limitations. Since becoming a practitioner of homoeopathy, I am not only fulfilling my desire to be in a health related career but to be able to give people the time and attention that is required in order to treat the whole person.
The homoeopathic consultation can last over an hour and besides giving therapeutic information the patient also has time to be listened to, which is also quite healing in itself. I now combine my family life, 3 young children, with part-time nursing and a growing homoeopathic practice. I find I am also getting much more out of my nursing now. I found the professional course very enlightening and very practical. As part of my continued professional development I completed the postgraduate programme at Milltown, which I found very rewarding and supportive.”
Martin Byrne – Graduate
I changed my career at 40. I have had a number of careers, prior to becoming a Homeopath and having spent the previous 10 years working as a partner in a music PR company I came to the conclusion that a career in music is a young person’s game! I decided that if I was going to change career it had to be something I really wanted to do. As a child, I was always interested in a career in the medical profession, indeed I was an active member of my local Red Cross. As an adult, I had attended a Homeopath and homeopathy fascinated me, it worked, but I didn’t know how.
All those questions the homeopath posed, which to me at the time appeared irrelevant and had nothing to do with my illness. I know now the questions had everything to do with it, I had to find out more so I followed my heart and decided that a career in homeopathy was for me. The next four years at the Irish School of Homoeopathy were incredibly enjoyable and at times very challenging as homeopathy really challenges your pre-conceived ideas on healthcare. The lecturers are very professional, well trained and above all approachable.
During a visit to my Osteopath after I had just qualified, I was asked if I would be interested in joining their practice. This practice represented the vision I had for myself, working as a Homeopath in a multidisciplinary practice. Homeopathy is a wonderful profession to get into and it is just beginning to come into its own in Ireland. More and more people are turning to homeopathy as a first port of call as well as using homeopathy along side their conventional treatment.
Bernie Smyth Lic.ISH, I.S.Hom – Graduate
“I qualified from the Irish School of Homeopathy some years ago; I must say I thoroughly
enjoyed the course; it was fascinating, inspirational and at times, challenging. The lecturers were extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic and I received great encouragement from the study group
tutors and from the School itself.
I now have a very busy practice and look forward to other students
graduating, to help keep up with the ever-increasing demand for homeopathic practitioners!
I also lecture at the School and work closely with students as mentor and study group tutor.
I envisage homeopathy as the medicine of the future and would love to impart to people how powerful and potent a medicine it is.”
Mairéad Kennedy – Computer Programmer and Graduate
I started studying Homeopathy because I had seen it work in a variety of situations including ones beyond the scope of conventional medicine. I felt attracted to its holistic nature, working with the body rather than against it. I am seeking to change my career to something which is more in line with my value system and beliefs in life; and more than anything else I want to help people.
I feel a move to homeopathy would work well as I would be able to combine my scientific mind with strong interpersonal skills. I felt the study of homeopathy would be a challenging area and give me an opportunity for constant learning and personal growth and I certainly was not disappointed.
Sheelagh O’Brien – Reflexologist and Aromatherapist & Graduate
As a child who was practically reared on anti-biotics I always felt there was something vital missing and when I was in my 30’s I attended a Homeopath who cured my life-long sore throat. As a holistic therapist, I feel the need to expand my skills, and prepare for the future knowing I cannot physically massage for the remainder of my working life, but wish to continue working with my clients on another level..
Homeopathy has worked exceptionally well for me and I look forward to being able to extend the whole experience to my clients. I enjoyed the experience of college life and I particularly enjoyed the variety of lecturers, who are Practitioners, and thus give dynamic information from their daily practice of homeopathy.
Tanya Cawley – Graduate – Changing Career from Radio to Remedy
A career in Film and Television to becoming a Homoeopath couldn’t possibly be any more opposite. The first day of my first job I walked onto the set of ‘The Michael Collins Movie’ I was hooked. I had worked up the ranks from Trainee Assistant Director to First Assistant Director, the boss basically, but something was missing, this glamorous position -self satisfying as it was, felt lacking. With long hours of work my health began to suffer too and so I went to see a Homoeopath.
I was probably the biggest fan of anti-biotics and had no time for flakiness in general, but after being dispensed a small collection of white pills and a timetable to take them I toddled off on my merry way but within four weeks a profound change had taken place – not only had all symptoms disappeared but I had discovered what I wanted to do. This process of treating a person by sitting and listening to them intently for over an hour while taking their case I found very healing and so I enrolled as a student. It was a pleasure to study something that I enjoyed and that benefited my whole family; there was also great support from fellow students and Homeopaths who mentored us. Nothing can quiet compare to being in control of my own life, managing my own time and business and ensuring a better standard of health for my family.