About Dúlra

Meet Kate Maher

Kate is Dúlra’s founder and lead practitioner. With over 15 years’ teaching experience, Kate has worked internationally and in diverse educational settings. A qualified primary school teacher and founding member of the Chartered Institute of Teaching, she also holds an Honours Bachelor’s Degree from the National College of Art and Design.

Raised in Dublin and Kildare, she combines her artistic background with musical expertise, having taught violin and Kinder -music with the Kildare Outreach Programme. She completed her Forest School Leadership Level 3 Certification with Huathe UK.

Kate has developed homeschool curriculae from scratch and has led programmes in the areas of English language, theatre, social education, and special needs support. Inclusivity and ensuring equal access to nature are at the forefront of Kate’s priorities when it comes to Forest School.

She is passionate about learning, nature, being outdoors and creative thinking.

Kate is Garda Vetted and holds up-to-date certifications in Paediatric First Aid, Remote Emergency Care and Children First Safeguarding from Tulsa.

“A bhuí le meantóirí spreagúla a bhí agam sa bhunscoil, bhí grá agam i gcónaí don Ghaeilge, cé nach raibh mé chomh líofa is gur mhaith liom a bheith. Bhí cónaí orm agus d’oibrigh mé thar lear mar sin ní raibh go leor deiseanna agam chun an spéis sin a fhás. Nuair a d’fhill mé ar Éirinn anuraidh, thit mé i ngrá leis an nGaeilge arís agus, an uair seo, go háirithe leis an teanga a úsáidimid maidir leis an dúlra. Thuig mé go bhfuil saibhreas d’eolas tíre le fáil sna focail dhúchasacha atá againn dár dtírdhreach, do shaol ár n-ainmhithe agus plandaí, dár n-aimsir, dár bhfarraigí. Creidim go paiseanta gur fiú an oidhreacht shanasaíoch seo a bheochan, gur áit iontach é an tsaoirse taobh amuigh chun é seo a dhéanamh, agus gurb iad na leanaí agus a n-intinn ag fás agus ag forbairt is fearr chun é sin a dhéanamh! 

Tá sé mar aidhm ag Dúlra ná lúcháir fhadtéarmach a chothú inár bpáistí don Ghaeilge agus muinín a thabhairt dóibh í a úsáid ina saol laethúil. Tá an-áthas orainn a bheith páirteach i bpobal atá ag fás agus ar mian leo an Ghaeilge a chomhtháthú ina gcuid fiontar.”