I consult and advise people wishing to improve health through diet and nutrition.
I am 20 years in private practice where I run a consultancy clinic advise people wishing to improve health through diet and nutrition, the use of natural – medicines herbal medicines and vitamins, and recommend health lifestyle practices.
For the last 8 years I am a lecturer in nutrition and health & wellness coaching at ATU Sligo.

For the participants at Epoch I would love them to grasp the most important and practical aspects of nutritious food, how to plan and prepare foods and importantly integrate this knowledge into their lives moving forward, no matter what their circumstances are.

I am a newly qualified Home Economics and Irish teacher. I hold an undergraduate degree in Home Economics and Irish, and I completed a Master’s in Education with a focus on Home Economics. Currently, I am in the first year of a two-year Master’s degree in Home Economics, Nutrition, and Health Promotion.”

Professional Experience

I am a newly qualified teacher and have been teaching at Sligo Grammar School for the past two years. In my role, my primary responsibility is to create and deliver engaging lessons that help students understand and apply the subject matter. It is important to me to foster a positive, fun, and supportive classroom environment that encourages student growth and development. Over the past two years, I have gained experience working with students across various age groups, from junior to senior cycle, and have taught life skills, including cooking, nutrition, and food safety.

In addition, I have spent the last three years working with students at a Gaeltacht summer camp, where I’ve further honed my skills in engaging young learners and creating interactive learning experiences. This experience has allowed me to connect with students in a more informal, relaxed setting, where I focused on teaching practical skills and fostering a sense of community.

I believe my role as a teacher aligns perfectly with Epoch by guiding young adults through hands-on cooking activities in a fun and relaxed environment. I would focus on teaching essential kitchen skills, promoting food safety, and encouraging creativity and teamwork, all while ensuring the experience remains enjoyable and stress-free. I hope to help students deepen their understanding of nutrition and healthy eating in the kitchen, ensuring they have a fun, educational, and rewarding experience.

Specific Knowledge

I believe as a home economics teacher; I bring my passion for empowering students with practical skills in cooking and meal preparation. My goal is to create a fun, hands-on learning environment that is both engaging and stress-free, where students can develop essential life skills—from preparing nutritious snacks to cooking balanced meals. By teaching them the fundamentals of cooking, meal planning, and kitchen safety, I aim to equip them with the confidence and knowledge needed to contribute at home and in the future. Ultimately, I hope to foster independence and self-sufficiency in the kitchen, inspiring students to develop lifelong cooking skills and a genuine appreciation for healthy eating, all while ensuring the experience remains enjoyable and relaxed

Hailing from County Mayo, John Barrett has dedicated the last 15 years to leading Wild Wet Adventure, where he primarily operates from Temple House Lake, along with other locations along the Garavogue River and Lough Gill in Sligo.

As a qualified water sports instructor, John holds certifications in FETAC and outdoor recreation. He is committed to professional development, continually updating his skills through various courses accredited by Sport Ireland Coaching.

Additionally, John has earned Level 3 Rescue Emergency Care certificates and recently completed a Bachelor of Arts in Contemporary Arts Practice.

John has facilitated a wide range of programs and camps, catering to adults, teens, and children with diverse abilities and disabilities. His collaborations span several local agencies, including Prison Liaison Services, Northwest Autism, Cregg House Community Co-op, and Sligo Northside Community Partnership, focusing on tailored water courses.

John is enthusiastic about his upcoming project with Epoch in summer 2025, looking forward to bringing his expertise and passion for outdoor activities to a new audience.

I started out my coaching journey back in 2007 in my home town of Sligo. I started working with a group of distance athletes at a local school. As the numbers grew and kids formed interests in different events so I very quickly upskilled myself across all athletics disciplines so I could coach adequately in each.

I believe if you get a kid young enough and have they buy in you can mould them into anything they want to become.

In 2015 I set up a talent ID program called ‘The Fastest Feet’ where the kids top end speed is recorded and the quickest 2 kids and their family are taken to the Millrose Games in New York City. The Millrose Games is the most famous track and field meet in the world.

In 2023 I started working with Paralympics Ireland as Performance/Pathways coach and was track & field coach on the Paris 2024 team. I found my background working as an SNA along with a number of years coaching steered my down this avenue and now my training group boasts kids showing potential in perhaps one day becoming a Paralympian.

I believe in the domino effect in coaching where the older kids pass down to the younger kids coming through. I also believe kids should be trained in a multi sport/track setting which allows the base to be broader hence moulding into whatever they wish to become over time, this decision can never be made in their earlier days.

I am 25 years old and work in both ROM Sligo as a personal trainer/fitness instructor and YamaHara Gymnastics Sligo as a gymnastics coach.

I hold an EQF level 4 personal training certificate after graduating in November 2023 and receiving my Bachelor of business honours degree in sport & business level 8.

I grew up in the sport of gymnastics since the age of 4, and started coaching at the age of 18 after receiving my level 2 Gymnastics Ireland coaching certificate in 2018 and have been coaching since. I work teaching children the fundamental movements and gymnastics skills to help them improve strength, balance, agility, bodily awareness and to help them progress through movement as they become older.

As a personal trainer, I work with adults to help tailor fitness programs to their needs, mainly working on efficiency and longevity with strength training and cardiovascular fitness, whilst also incorporating the basic fundamental movements as it is just as important for adults.

Mobility work and movement is a big part of what I do as I find it’s a great stress reliever and helps to regulate the nervous system is both adults and children which I find would be beneficial to the participants at epoch.

Elizabeth practises as a Child and Adolescent therapist, Parent Mentor and Relationship Mentor. Elizabeth holds Post Graduate Diplomas in Play Therapy, Parent Mentoring and Relationship Mentoring from UCC and CTC.  She is a member of Irish Association of Play Therapists and Psychotherapy and Irish Association of Relationship Mentors.

Elizabeth works in private practice in Dun Laoghaire, Dublin extensive experience working with individual children, teenagers and parents. The Play Therapy approach aims to help children understand confused feelings, resolve difficulties and to make sense of upsetting events.

Epoch approaced Elizabeth due to her working methods – she workd in a non judgemental, empathic, safe and respectful way. In play therapy, toys are like the child’s words and play is the child’s language (Landreth, 2002).

As a Parent and Relationship Mentor her aim is to  work and create safety and space for participants to tap in to their potential so that they can empower themselves and have better understanding in their relationships with themselves and others.

Elizabeth also offers training, workshops, seminars and courses to teenagers, parents, teachers and professionals working with children and adolescents on a variety of topics such as parenting matters, raising self esteem, communication, talks to parents on teenagers and Relationships.