Last week, I visited the 2nd, 3rd and 4th years girls in St Al’s School Carrigtwohill. The girls were open, honest and respectful, and poured their hearts into their goals, apologies and promises. In the future, these girls want to be animators, vets, camogie players, teachers, soldiers, actors, singers, and world leaders. Above all, most wanted to
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To all incredible women who strive for excellence, When I was growing up, I had a dream. I’m sure you did, too. My dream wasn’t like that of an average kid, my dream was to be the best tennis player in the world. Not the best “female” tennis player in the world. I was fortunate to
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Before Michelle Obama, there was only ever one first lady worth talking about. Jackie Kennedy may have had the style and grace but Eleanor Roosevelt has the chutzpah (an old term for swag). In 1905 Eleanor married Franklin D Roosevelt who became president in 1932. She was a renowned suffragette. She used her platform to
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Its hard to describe, like explaining the colour yellow to someone who is blind. One of our readers sent us this video which pefectly sums up what anxiety feels like https://www.facebook.com/MentalHealthOnTheMighty/videos/1810982332503810/ High-functioning anxiety looks like… Achievement. Busyness. Perfectionism. When it sneaks out, it transforms into nervous habits. Nail biting. Foot tapping. Running my fingers through
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When I was growing up there were no well known females in Business. Apart from Terry Prone. Before I did my leaving cert, I knew her by name, I knew she was the voice behind many powerful people, writing their speeches, handling their PR and sorting our their crises. At that time, it was assumed
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Sandra O’Keeffe is a a personal trainer and fitness instructor, nutritional advisor, and motivation and weight management coach. She knows a lot about negative eating behaviours and how they affect our moods and mental well-being in general. She has some thoughts on how we could love our body more and was happy to share. We are
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Louise Bruton is a wheelchair user. She’s also gas craic. She has a bespoke prosthetic leg called “Priscilla” which she says “didn’t cost and arm and a leg, just a foot.” She is a very successful journalist and Ted X Talker (you can watch her here). On her website ‘Legless in Dublin’ , Louise rates
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Albert Einstein was very smart. This we know. But we didn’t know he was such an awesome Dad. In the 80’s, his daughter Lieserl, donated 1,400 letters to the Hebew University, on the understanding that they were not to be released until 20 years after his death. In this one, he explains his theory on
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English model, Iskra Lawrence, took her clothes off on a busy New York subway to give a speech about body shaming. There she stands in her pants, telling people how they should love their body, and be thankful for the gift you have been given. “I grew up hating what I saw in the mirror
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Last month we visited Marino College in Dublin and talked to the girls about their relationships with each other, and about how important it is to have an open heart, a positive mindset, and steely determination no matter what life throws at you. Marino were the first school to take part in the Safe Halls Challenge,
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Fiona writes one of the most honest bogs you will ever read. At www.sunnyspellsandscatteredshowers.org she describes her ongoing struggle with borderline personality disorder and depression. Sometimes she will rip your heart out with her words, and others she will make you marvel at her resilience and her unbelievable ability to get back up, and start again.
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We have all heard (unless living under a rock) of the Brock Turner sexual assault case that broke in the U.S some months ago. Well what about “Emily Doe”? Emily Doe was his victim. This post is NOT going to be about the vile being that is Brock Turner. This post is NOT going to
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This video really sums up what The Shona Project is all about. We aim to help, inspire and empower girls to dream big, and to have the strength, determination and resilience to achieve those dreams. As Eleanor Rosevelt, our favourite first lady (pre-Michelle, obvs) once said “No one can make you feel inferior without your
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One of our readers sent us a link this week to this amazing Ted Talk by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Inspired by her talk we did more research and found out that Chimamanda has written a book, also called “We Should all be Feminists”. This teeny tiny book has been deemed required reading in Sweden, and
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When we heard the story of ‘Izzy Wheels’ on Nationwide, we really had to contact the girls to hear the lovely story behind this new business run by designer, Ailbhe Keane aged 23 from Galway. Isabel, Ailbhe’s younger sister was born with Spina Bifida and uses a wheelchair. She wanted to be able to customise her
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Why am I so obsessed with my bed? Doctor Sharon explains all below: During sleep our bodies reboot- our brain processes all the information we have gathered during the day [that includes school work!] and the body gets busy repairing muscles, healing wounds, making hormones and growing. It’s a really important time for the
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To be honest, she freaks us out a little on ‘The Fall’ with her tough, cold, non smiling, intimidating death stare, but it turns our Gillian Anderson is actually pretty sound. In March, Gillian will release ‘We: A Manifesto for Women Everywhere’, which she says will help young women like your good selves deal with confidence
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Fancy a lovely, positive, girlie bonding day with your besties? Lucky for you, GIRLFEST is here! We are very excited to announce that we have created a lovely partnership with The Place of Dance and Performing Arts in Waterford to create GIRLFEST, a day to relax, bond and celebrate all that it means to be a
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