Podcast Episodes Season 1

Episode 4 Pathways to Potential - John Roche Director of Engage in Education 

This week, we’re joined by John Roche, Director of Engage in Education, a Limerick-based educational charity doing incredible work with students and families across Southill, Ballinacurra Weston, St Mary’s Park, and Moyross.

In this powerful conversation, John shares insights into the challenges and triumphs of supporting educational equity in underrepresented communities — and how real change begins with listening, trust, and long-term commitment.

If you care about education, community empowerment, or simply want to hear a story of hope and action — this one’s not to be missed.

Listen now:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=funh1YWfVXs

Acast: https://shows.acast.com/.../epis.../683029669cad4906be6add38

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3GfJi2zMIarBooI9u3uDdy...

Episode 5 Learning for Life - Sorcha Warton August

In this week’s episode of On the Margins, we sit down with Sorcha Wharton August, Community Employment Supervisor and Manager of St Mary’s Adult Education Centre — a cornerstone of lifelong learning in Limerick’s St Mary’s Parish.

📚 From its humble beginnings as a grassroots initiative to its evolution into a thriving outreach campus, Sorcha shares the incredible story behind the centre’s growth. Discover how they deliver QQI-accredited programmes, social activity classes, and confidential literacy supports, creating real, lasting impact across generations.

Expect to learn:
✨ How adult education is changing lives
✨ The power of community employment
✨ What it takes to build inclusive, local learning hubs
… and so much more!

🔗 Listen now:
📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VikH13yRr7c
🎙️ Acast: https://shows.acast.com/on-the-margins/episodes/68381972998551779ffbe8d8
🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0QIdgWQKYTzOLD8zBDZEMw

💡 For more on the incredible work happening at St Mary’s Adult Education Centre, visit: www.stmarysadulteducation.ie

Episode 7 Home Schooling - PJ Mc Namara

PJ on Home Education in Ireland

This week on On the Margins, we sit down with PJ, a Home Education Assessor with TUSLA, formerly a second-level educator and school principal.

 Expect to learn:

How Ireland’s unique constitution shapes home schooling

Why home education is on the rise

The many diverse reasons students and parents choose alternatives to mainstream education

What PJ’s role reveals about a lesser-known side of the Irish education system

We truly enjoyed this insightful and eye-opening conversation with PJ, offering a deep dive into an area often overlooked in the broader education debate.

 Listen now:

 YouTube: Watch here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mplR9ree0Yw

 Spotify: Listen here https://open.spotify.com/episode/40lvWMAXqYBB1Wgx2X4p26

 Acast: Stream here

https://shows.acast.com/on-the-margins/episodes/684990a71a37473f7df7a04c

Episode 8: Restortative Practice with Joe Power 

🎧 NEW EPISODE DROP: On the Margins Podcast 🎧
Guest: Joe Power | Topic: Restorative Practice, Real Change

What if the key to transforming schools isn’t more discipline—but deeper connection?

In this episode, we sit down with Joe Power, a restorative practice trainer and former residential care worker, to explore:

·         How early intervention can change lives

·         Why “What happened?” is more powerful than “Why did you do that?”

·         The real stories behind so-called “challenging” behaviour

·         What schools, prisons, and sports teams can learn from each other

This is a must-listen for educators, youth workers, and anyone who believes in second chances.

🎙️ Tune in now on your favourite platform:

📺 Watch on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-kILjUGE2k

🎧 Listen on Acast https://open.acast.com/networks/63a09a186bb5ca0010fb7226/shows/672bbee5afa9526ed4c4b594/episodes/685e6afa081ac1df5d1b4c0e

🎵 Stream on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/426fSWnaHTPuOQkIMz1Upc

You can contact Joe www.restorativeliving.ie

Episode 9 The Hidden Curriculum of Class – Helen Lowe

Some people think social mobility is just about “working hard.”

But for many, it’s more like a maze—with walls you can’t see, rules you don’t know, and doors that only open if you already have the key.

Ballinacurra Weston native Helen Lowe PhD Lowe is a university teacher, mother, and researcher who bridged that gap.

YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvflzjuP_w0&t=28s

Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6tPsALqICV1ZfFV0KgzmND

ACast

https://embed.acast.com/672bbee5afa9526ed4c4b594/686f8283fe0897380e6e8b90

 Episode 10 Access to Ambition: Declan Rodgers & Cian Williams 

Declan Rodgers and Cian Williams are students at the University of Limerick, both supported by the UL Access programme and Engage. 

Expect to learn how this programme has opened doors to higher education, offering financial, academic, and personal supports that helped Declan complete a Master’s in Education and enabled Cian to pursue a degree in medicine. In this episode, they share their journeys, the challenges they’ve overcome, and the transformative impact of access to opportunity.

If you are interested in supporting Engage, visit https://engage-edu.ie/support-us/. 

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOs8WVoFZhk&t=1006s

Spotify 

ACast https://open.acast.com/public/streams/672bbee5afa9526ed4c4b594/episodes/6842decec4b70577af897147.mp3