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Eimear Burke | |
|---|---|
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| Chosen Chief of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids | |
| Assumed office June 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Phillip Carr-Gomm |
Eimear Burke is an Irish psychologist and musician who has served as the Chosen Chief of the Order of Bards,Ovates and Druids since 2020. [1]
Burke was raised in rural Ireland in a Christian household,but was agnostic from an early age. In 1988,she graduated from Trinity College,Dublin,with a degree in psychology,after which she worked in healthcare in Lesotho,where she first encountered indigenous healing methods. Burke received a MSc in Counselling Psychology in 1993,before setting up a private psychology practise. [2] She worked as a guest lecturer at Trinity College for 6 years,in addition to teaching Human Development in both Dublin and Tanzania. [3] Through her encounters with traditional healers in Africa,Burke was introduced to the common threads between indigenous African traditions and druidry.
Burke became a member of the Order of Bards,Ovates and Druids in 2003,later joining a grove in Kilkenny,frequently leading ceremonies to mark the Wheel of the Year. Alongside her late husband,Howard,she founded a Druid College based in Kilkenny in 2010. She also works as a celebrant.
She was announced as Chosen Chief in 2018, [4] taking up the office in 2020. Due to the coronavirus pandemic,her confirmation was postponed to the Order's 2022 Summer Gathering in Glastonbury,where a ceremony took place. [5] Since taking office,Burke leads weekly fireside chats,which are streamed online and are publicly available.