“Family Life Today – The Greatest Revolution”

clare | public consultation / irish social forum | event notice Tuesday October 28, 2008 16:27 by Ceifin Conference - The Ceifin Centre

Ceifin Conference 2008

“FAMILY LIFE TODAY – THE GREATEST REVOLUTION”
CÉIFIN CONFERENCE 2008 EXPLORES HOW SHIFT IN FAMILY VALUES IS MOST SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE FACING IRISH SOCIETY

Tuesday, 4th & Wednesday, 5th November

“Family Life Today – The Greatest Revolution” is the theme of CÉIFIN CONFERENCE 2008 – the 11th annual conference which will be hosted by The Céifin Centre on Tuesday, 4th November and Wednesday, 5th November at West County Hotel, Ennis, Co. Clare. This year’s conference addresses challenges facing Irish society as a result of the profound changes that continue to take place in family and community life in contemporary Ireland. This shift in family dynamic has been a constant theme running through the ten Céifin Conferences since 1998.

“FAMILY LIFE TODAY – THE GREATEST REVOLUTION”
CÉIFIN CONFERENCE 2008 EXPLORES HOW SHIFT IN FAMILY VALUES IS MOST SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE FACING IRISH SOCIETY

Tuesday, 4th & Wednesday, 5th November

“Family Life Today – The Greatest Revolution” is the theme of CÉIFIN CONFERENCE 2008 – the 11th annual conference which will be hosted by The Céifin Centre on Tuesday, 4th November and Wednesday, 5th November at West County Hotel, Ennis, Co. Clare. This year’s conference addresses challenges facing Irish society as a result of the profound changes that continue to take place in family and community life in contemporary Ireland. This shift in family dynamic has been a constant theme running through the ten Céifin Conferences since 1998.

Fr. Harry Bohan, founder of The Céifin Centre has attracted a distinguished line-up of speakers to explore the theme of family from different perspectives for CÉIFIN CONFERENCE 2008. RTÉ broadcaster, Rachael English chairs the two day event which opens on Tuesday, 4th November with two talks on family life: Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of all-Ireland presents “The Family as the Foundation of Society” and social & economic research consultant Kieran McKeown speaks on “Family Well-Being”. Irish author and philosopher, Charles Handy puts the focus on home and work in his talk “Nomads, will they Change the Family?” which is followed by him in conversation with John Quinn, writer and former RTÉ award winning broadcaster.

On Tuesday afternoon, Dr. John Yzaguirre, psychologist, educator and author from Barcelona, now based in the US, gives a keynote address on relationships entitled “A New Vision for the Changing Family”. The first day concludes with Mamo McDonald of Age & Opportunity, Geraldine Reidy of Lone Parent Groups in Ireland (OPEN) and Kevin Murphy, stay-at-home Dad, telling their stories in a panel discussion on “Family Life and Parenting in Ireland Today”, which is chaired by media consultant, Ciana Campbell.

The conference resumes on Wednesday, 5th November exploring the position of the family in today’s society. Geoffrey Shannon, a senior lecturer in family & child law focuses on “The Family in Irish Law”. Economist Jim Power looks at the effect of the current financial crisis on families and their coping skills. Clinical psychologist, Marie Murray explores this theme from the perspective of “Changing Family Patterns”.

The Patrick Hillery Memorial Lecture is an important strand of this year’s conference and highlights the late President Hillery’s major contribution to Irish education. John Quinn will introduce this lecture with a talk on “Patrick Hillery in Context” and school principal Mary Forde will speak on “Home & School”, exploring the impact of contemporary home lifestyles on education today. Bishop Willie Walsh will mark the occasion by presenting The Céifin Award 2008 to the late President’s family.

In addition to the speakers’ presentations, on Wednesday afternoon from 2.30-4.30pm, Dr. John Yzaguirre and Claire Frazier-Yzaguirre give a post-conference workshop entitled “How to Build Strong & Thriving Marriages”. This workshop is particularly relevant to those working with couples and families.

Attracting individuals from sectors including health, education, sociology, Law and the Church, the conference offers a unique opportunity to discuss these issues with hundreds of other attendees, all concerned with these topics, whether from a personal or a professional standpoint.

Delegates can make their contributions to the debate in the Q & A sessions on both days. The Céifin Centre hosts a gala dinner on the first evening of the conference.

Speaking about this year’s event, Fr. Harry Bohan of The Céifin Centre says: “This year we are encouraging people who are very much part of families and communities, people who are informed by action to attend. The family needs support.” Fr. Harry thinks that the conference will enable delegates “to broaden their awareness of the current state of family life and the changing nature of relationships between home, school, and work-place which places a particular emphasis on a new vision for the changing family”.

The Céifin Centre is encouraging parishes and communities to sponsor people who have the capacity to bring back useful information on family support and put it into action in their local communities.

For further information about the conference please contact:
The Céifin Centre, Tel: 061 365 912, Email: admin@ceifin.com, Website: www.ceifin co