Hello

Learn about my background as a Chinese Medicine practitioner and teacher of health-focused exercise practices on this page. Below, you will find a concise biography that outlines my journey, highlighting how my education in East Asian healing arts has been enriched by my involvement with sports in both professional and competitive arenas, and by my practice of Taiji-Qigong.

The path to becoming a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine:

My exploration of East Asian healing practices began in my early twenties when I undertook two years of Shiatsu training in Paris. After that, I moved to Ireland, where I dedicated three years to studying at the Irish College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, ultimately earning a Licentiate degree in TCM Acupuncture. In addition to my acupuncture training, I undertook training as an Equine Assisted Therapy Facilitator with the ELISTA system. I also completed a Master's of Health Sciences through the New Zealand School of Acupuncture and TCM and a three-year diploma course in Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine with the White Crane Academy in the UK. In recent years, I have focused on developing the Qigong aspect of Chinese Medicine, which is essential for enhancing both my personal health (to guide by example) and the effectiveness of the practical skills I have acquired over the years.

Overall, my extensive training, including diploma courses and various Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses, has allowed me to achieve a high level of proficiency in Acupuncture, Moxibustion, Cupping, and Chinese Herbalism. Additionally, I incorporate manual techniques into most of my treatments, drawing from my foundational training in Shiatsu and Tuina.

For over six years, I have had the privilege of working at the Sligo Acupuncture Clinic (founded and managed by Fionnuala O'Hare). Late summer 2024, I expanded my practice by opening a treatment room in Tubbercurry, where I now operate as South Sligo Holistic Health, providing services from both clinics.

The path to becoming a teacher of health-focused movement practices:

Since I was 18, I immersed myself in the world of horses - which still feels like "Home" to me like no other environment. My professional journey has included training, caring for, and riding horses in various settings, such as riding schools and stunt teams, as well as forestry work with draught horses and facilitating Equine Assisted Therapy for individuals with special needs. These times fostered profound connection with both animals and people, which I now recognize as a wordless "Spirit to Spirit" bond, akin to the healing connection needed during Chinese Medicine consultations.

In terms of physical training, I have worked as a stunt performer (in my early twenties, then again in my early thirties), requiring me to engage in various sports to meet job demands. For hobby and passion, I dedicated 5 years to full-contact Medieval Sword Fighting as a member and international competitor of Medieval Armoured Combat Ireland, complemented by Crossfit training and trail running in Sligo to enhance my fitness for sparring in armor. Years of training at professional and competitive levels have exposed me to the various demands, benefits, and challenges—both physical and mental—of a lifestyle around continuous intensive physical training.

During the Covid lockdowns, and because of injuries which needed proper care, I explored Kungfu and Qigong, seeking a sustainable approach to self-care and physical training. Qigong, then Tai Chi, under the guidance of Shifu Zuan, current headmaster of Shaolin Temple Europe (Germany), have become central to my training routine for the past three years, alongside local casual trail running and Kickboxing (Sligo Mugendo Kickboxing, with Sensei Michael McDermott).

I believe that effective exercise routines for overall health/longevity should balance "Internal" practices (focusing on internal cultivation, circulation and harmonising of Qi/Energy), with "External" practices (building strength, agility, mobility, and cardiovascular fitness). As a Qigong teacher, I aim to share my insights from both Internal and External practices, along with my recovery journey from chronic ailments and injuries, to help my students cultivate a well-rounded, health-oriented exercise routine.