Patricia Higgins

02/11/2026

Looking back on the AONTAS Adult Education Summit, I realise just how much the opportunity to speak meant to me.

It felt like the culmination of a long journey as a woman to find a way to share what I have to offer about faith and spirituality.

There are relatively few such opportunities. So I really valued being invited to contribute to the Summit and the inclusion of my article in the latest Adult Learner Journal. The article looks at where Irish adults who are somewhat ‘over Church, but not over God’ can go to explore their faith and meet with others renegotiating their relationship with the religious tradition they grew up in.

In my presentation, I spoke about moving from passively receiving ideas about faith to co-creating spaces where people can explore questions of meaning, belief and spirituality together.

I used the image of gorse: bright, resilient, rooted and at home in spaces beyond walls. It evokes the kinds of spaces I have been involved in co-creating with others – rooted in people's lived experience, open to dialogue, and not confined by institutional boundaries.

I would love to develop further opportunities for adults to explore and express their faith and spirituality together through workshops, courses and retreats.

I am also interested in encouraging and supporting others who would like to create their own Rewilded Faith spaces ( or already have) – places where people can bring their lived experience, explore and express faith - and the questions it prompts -together, share leadership and discover what might grow.

I am grateful to AONTAS for making room for these conversations, and excited about what might come next.

The 2026 Adult Learner Journal is available here (my article is on p71):
https://www.aontas.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/The_Adult-Learner_2026_WEB.pdf

23/10/2026

Grateful to all AONTAS, the National Adult Learning Organisation for the chance to speak at .

Delighted too to have had my article on Spiritual Development and Adult Education published in the latest edition of the Adult Learner Journal.

With increasing numbers of Irish people moving away from regular practice of the religious faith they were raised in, where can they go to explore and express their spirituality and beliefs? And how can they re-negotiate their relationship with their faith tradition. I explore what role their might be for co-created participative spaces which use adult education approaches to dialogue around faith and spirituality starting with peoples’ lived experience and ask what role might adult education bodies play supporting such spaces.

For anyone who might be interested to read some more, itshttps://www.aontas.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/The_Adult-Learner_2026_WEB.pdf

30/09/2026

I'm really pleased to have the chance to speak about Spirituality in Post-Catholic Ireland at the AONTAS Summit in a few weeks' time.

It gives me a chance to talk about a topic very close to my heart.

A lot of people my age — middle-aged and counting — seem to be in a sort of 'partially post-Catholic' space: 'Over Church, but not over God.'

And I'm really interested in what we do with that.
- Where do you go with the questions you might still have about the faith you grew up in?
- What about the bits you actually do want to hold on to?
- And who do you talk about any of this with, particularly if established church spaces no longer feel like the place to do it?

I certainly don't have all the answers. But I do think we can do more for ourselves to address them than we may realise.

So, inspired by the notion of 'Rewilding Faith', I'll be sharing some of my experience of being part of creating informal, participative faith spaces with others outside established church settings — places where people can explore and express, question and celebrate what they believe and value, without having to have it all worked out first. And in doing so, often feel themselves better equipped to engage with their own inner lives, and in making a difference in the wider world.

23/09/2026

So here's the summit brochure...

Thanks to all at Aontas for the opportunity to be involved.

22/09/2026

It's a cliche, but I am truly delighted to be taking part at Adult Education Summit next month. I will be one of authors presenting their articles at the launch of the Adult Learner Journal.
I am really looking forward to sharing my thoughts on how adult education approaches can help adults enage with and explore their spirituality and the faith traditions they grew up within.

(I had to get a headshot for the brochure, so hence the updated profile pic - not before time!)

09/09/2026

❤️ Nine people. Nine true stories. One evening about connection.

What connects us to a place, to another person, or to a community?

As some of you know, I work part-time with Inishowen Development Partnership on the Connecting Communities team. This Friday evening in Buncrana, we’re trying something a little different.

Stories of Connection is a Tenx9 storytelling evening where nine people will each have ten minutes to tell a true story from their own life.

No speeches. No presentations. Just real people telling real stories — some funny, some moving, some unexpected — about the connections that have mattered to them.

You don’t have to tell a story yourself. Most of us will simply be there to listen, enjoy the evening and perhaps see something of our own lives in someone else’s story.

📅 Friday 11 September, 7.30–9.30pm
📍 NEW VENUE: Inishowen Gateway Hotel, Buncrana
🎟️ FREE – everyone over 18 is welcome

We’d really love to fill the room with a good mix of people from across Inishowen. If this sounds like your kind of evening, please come along — and perhaps bring a friend.

👉 Book your place for free now: https://inishowen.ie/whats-on/

And if you know someone who might enjoy an evening of good stories, warmth, humour and human connection, please share this post or tag them below.

Sometimes listening to someone else’s story is all it takes to see a stranger a little differently.

Stories of Connection is organised by Inishowen Development Partnership through I-STAR – Inishowen Standing Together Against Racism, in collaboration with Tenx9.

Join IDP this September for Stories of Connection, an evening of powerful, authentic storytelling brought to you by Tenx9.

We have some fantastic storytellers lined up, each sharing a true story from their own lives inspired by this year's theme of Connections. From stories of community, friendship, family and belonging, to unexpected encounters and life-changing moments, this promises to be a memorable evening of laughter, reflection and connection.

Places are still available, but booking is essential.

📅 Friday 11th September
🕢 7.30pm - 9.30pm
📍 Inishowen Gateway Hotel, Buncrana

🎟️ Free event (18+) and everyone is welcome.

Don't miss this opportunity to experience the magic of live storytelling and hear real stories told by real people.

👉 Booking link in the comments.

01/07/2026

Looking forward to leading this Volunteer Care Day tomorrow with Donegal Volunteer Centre. Hope the rain... and the midges...decide to stay away.

A chance for some re-energising rest, reflection and in the stunning scenery around Lough Eske.

11/06/2026

The images of the last few days coming from Belfast and across the North have been deeply disturbing. We learnt about people being burnt out of their homes in history class, forty years ago. It is horrifying to see it happen again, this time to different groups of people, who through no fault of their own, are being targetted. At a time when it can feel hard to know what to do, I am glad to be part of I-STAR (Inishowen Standing Together Against Racism), am grateful for the chance to gather with people who want to make some difference. Grateful too to IDP to focus on this work, including this statement today.

20/04/2026

https://www.patriciahiggins.ie/post/at-the-start-of-a-challenge

17/04/2026

How do you look after yourself when you look after others?

Time for those who care for others to care for themselves was the focus of this morning's session, organised by Donegal Volunteer Centre. I was chuffed to be asked to lead it.

After some lovely tea and scones we headed for a gentle stroll along the Swilly's stunning shoreline and reflected on our experience as volunteers, especially

the times we are grateful for
the times that stand out as we look back
the times we had to walk with those who were struggling
and the times we may have struggled ourselves,
and the times we saw something transformed emerge beyond that struggle
in others, and in ourselves.

We recognised the importance of regularly connecting, with ourselves, with nature, and with 'our tribe' - whoever that might be - to keep us keeping on.