Cora has oversight of the teaching and learning of students preparing to teach in Catholic education contexts. She chairs the Certificate in Religious Studies programme which qualifies teachers to teach RE in Catholic schools. She coordinates a team of teaching and research associates who are affiliated with the MDCCE.
As Director, she is responsible for initiating and facilitating research projects of importance to Catholic education nationally and internationally. She ensures that the findings of research projects associated with the Centre are disseminated widely to ensure the highest level of impact.
Outreach and engagement with key stakeholders in Catholic education are key dimensions of the role as Director of MDCCE and Cora engages with a range of bodies within the sector. This is achieved by hosting conferences, gatherings and offering services such as continuing professional development opportunities. In addition, Cora also serves on a number of committees both inside and outside DCU.
Cora is also a member of the School of Human Development in the IOE. She teaches Religious Education at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Her research interests include Religious Education, Children’s and Family Spirituality and Contemplative Pedagogies. Cora has a passion for Montessori inspired forms of Religious Education. She is a Godly Play Trainer and a founding member of Godly Play Ireland. She is also a Deep Talk practitioner.
Conference Contribution
Book Chapter
Year | Publication | |
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2024 | O'Farrell, C. (2024) 'A Call to Reimagine Catholic Education and Schooling - A Response to Dr. Seán Henry' In: Queer Thriving in Catholic Education. Going Beyond the Pastoral Paradigm for LGBTQ+ Inclusion. Singapore : Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-0323-4 | |
2018 | O’Farrell, C. (2018) '‘It’s like as if i’m close to god. i feel as if god is beside me’: Giving voice to children in the field of religious education - an irish study' In: Religious Education in Catholic Schools: Perspectives from Ireland and the UK. [Link] | |
2018 | O'Farrell, C (2018) 'The Desire for God: Irish children’s voices on spiritual education' In: Godly Play – European perspectives on practice and research. Germany : Waxmann. |
Peer Reviewed Journal
Year | Publication | |
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2024 | Sweetman, B.; O’Farrell, C. (2024) 'From acting as a crutch to activating as a catalyst: a spectrum of responses from Irish adults regarding religious education and faith development in COVID times'. British Journal of Religious Education, 46 . [Link] [DOI] | |
2023 | O’Farrell, C. (2023) 'Religious Education in the Early Years: An Irish Perspective'. Religions, 14 (459). https://doi.org/10.3390/rel14040459 |
Enterprise Engagement
Research Interests
Children's Spirituality
The voice of the child in relation to spiritual education
Continuing professional development for teachers
Parent Education
Contemplative pedagogies with a particular focus on Deep Talk.
Research Projects
Teaching Interests
Religious Education
Methodologies rooted in Montessori approach to religious education - Godly Play and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Contemplative Pedagogies e.g. Deep Talk
Continuing Professional development