Carlow College is set to host its first ever TEDx event, taking place on Wednesday, 25 February at the GB Shaw Theatre in VISUAL. Under the theme “Rewriting the Narrative”, TEDxCarlow College will bring together fourteen dynamic speakers offering fresh perspectives across topics including psychology, cultural heritage, poetry and literature, biodiversity in agriculture, the science of consciousness, career development, and the rising profitability of Irish identity within influencer culture.
This milestone event marks a significant cultural moment for Carlow, showcasing both local talent and national voices committed to reshaping conversations and challenging assumptions.
Among the speakers are individuals like Ailbhe Gerrard from Brookfield Farm who holds a Master of Science degree in Organic Farming from Scotland’s Rural College and in Environment and Sustainable Development from University College London and is known for her dedication to sustainable agriculture. Dr Dylan Colbert, Lecturer in Psychology at Carlow College, will explore how revered Antarctic explorer, Ernest Shackleton, masterfully applied principles that a century of psychological research has subsequently validated. Dr Judy Bolger, Historian and Educational Technologist in Carlow College, will delve into social constraints to infant feeding over time. Killian McGrath, Doctor of Philosophy, will challenge the long-shaped scientific study of consciousness.
Other notable speakers include Donnchadh O’Mahony, Guidance Counsellor and host of Leaving Cert Guidance podcast, Adam Clarke, Campaign Manager for Game If You Are, Alison Stephens, Fullbright U.S. Scholar and systems strategic working across biomedical informatics, health equity, education policy, climate and environmental health, who will delve into the issue of scientific research excluding the ethical, cultural and human expertise of the social sciences and humanities.
The diverse line-up of speakers will deliver powerful, concise talks designed to spark curiosity, inspire dialogue, and encourage audiences to rethink the stories that shape their lives and communities.
Co-organiser Dr. Regina Donlon, Lecturer at Carlow College, expressed her excitement about bringing TEDx to the College:
We are thrilled to offer Carlow its first TEDx platform – an opportunity to share ideas that challenge, inspire, and reimagine what is possible. ‘Rewriting the Narrative’ reflects both the spirit of our speakers and the broader ambition to rethink how we understand identify, community, and change. This event represents an important step in amplifying new voices and fostering meaningful conversations within our region.”
Limited free tickets remain available. Full speaker line-up and ticket bookings can be found at carlowcollege.ie/tedx
The event will be hosted in GB Shaw Theatre at VISUAL Carlow from 9.30am – 1.30pm on Wednesday, 25 February 2026.
About TEDx, x= independently organized event
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TED Talks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. (Subject to certain rules and regulations.)
About TED
TED is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to discovering, debating and spreading ideas that spark conversation, deepen understanding and drive meaningful change. Our organization is devoted to curiosity, reason, wonder and the pursuit of knowledge — without an agenda. We welcome people from every discipline and culture who seek a deeper understanding of the world and connection with others, and we invite everyone to engage with ideas and activate them in your community.
TED began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment and Design converged, but today it spans a multitude of worldwide communities and initiatives exploring everything from science and business to education, arts and global issues. In addition to the TED Talks curated from our annual conferences and published on TED.com, we produce original podcasts, short video series, animated educational lessons (TED-Ed) and TV programs that are translated into more than 100 languages and distributed via partnerships around the world. Each year, thousands of independently run TEDx events. Through the Audacious Project, TED has helped catalyze $6.6 billion in funding for projects that support bold solutions to the world’s most urgent challenges — working to make the world more beautiful, sustainable and just. In 2020, TED launched Countdown, an initiative to accelerate solutions to the climate crisis and mobilize a movement for a net-zero future, and in 2023 TED launched TED Democracy to spark a new kind of conversation focused on realistic pathways towards a more vibrant and equitable future. View a full list of TED’s many programs and initiatives.