Programme for IDEA Annual Conference 2026 - Education for Liberation: GCE in an Age of Crisis 

Wednesday, 24 June 2026, Grand Hotel Malahide

You can download the full agenda and programme here and save it to your device as a PDF.   

Any queries, please email events@ideaonline.ie or talk to a member of staff on the day. Please note video recording and photography are happening during the day. Please let us know if you would prefer not to appear in any footage. Please feel free to tag us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or BlueSky. 

AGENDA 

10:00 – Registration and refreshments 

10:30 – Welcome remarks and a special message from Brazil by Madza Ednir 

10:50 – Keynote Address by Zoryana Pshyk 

11:30 – Water and fruit break 

11:45 – Address by Niall Tierney, Irish Aid 

11:50 – Music by Aziz Abushark 

12:00 – Panel Conversation followed by Q&A 
Voices for Liberation: Perspectives on Education in an Age of Crisis
Hosted by Mary Coogan. Panellists: Fahmeda Naheed, John Magee, Macarena Montero and Talha AlAli 

13:00 – Lunch with tea and coffee 

13:50 – Workshop Sessions 

Workshop options below. Various rooms; pre-registration required. 

Workshop options: 

Emotion and Motivation: Capturing Energy – The Genius of Freire 
Venue: Marconi | Facilitator: Peter Dorman 

Using Drama Methodologies to Facilitate Liberating GCE 
Venue: Edison | Facilitators: Ellen Corby and Mica O’Dwyer 

Nurturing Educator Reflexivity through Gestalt Theatre 
Venue: Berners Lee | Facilitator: Sive Bresnihan 

From Conscientisation to Collective Action – Freirean Dialogues Across Africa and the Diaspora

Venue: Baird | Facilitator: Daniela Jiménez-Montero 

African Queens – Music, Storytelling and Education for Liberation 
Venue: Tara Suite | Facilitators: Nomalanga Zulu and Neo Florence Gilson

Who in this world has access to pleasure? 
Venue: O’Carolan | Facilitators: Aleesha Wiegandt and Zoë McKenna 

15:30 – Comfort and hydration break 

15:45 – Performance by African Queens 

15:50 – In Conversation with Sally Hayden, hosted by Pierre Yimbog 

16:40 – Closing Ceremony featuring featuring:
The Blanket for Palestine with music by Aziz Abushark and spoken word by Nima Ashour 

17:00 – Book signing, raffle and drinks reception 

You can download the full agenda and programme here and save it to your device as a PDF.