How Women ADHD – Vol 2

Celebrating International Women’s Day

Join us as we celebrate the passions, commitments, and journeys of  ADHD women. Our events are designed to spotlight remarkable individuals, their adventures, and narratives and this time won’t be any different!

We extend a warm welcome to Women with ADHD, along with their family or friends, to foster understanding and acceptance of their unique experiences and realities along with informative and valuable presentation from Occupational Therapists.

We are very grateful to be delivering this event in partnership with DCU!

Date: Friday 7th of March

Location: DCU Collins AvenueHG20 in the Nursing building on Glasnevin campus, Collins Avenue Extension, Dublin 9, Dublin.

Time: 6:30 pm doors will open

Tickets: €10 / 2 for €15

Book your ticket HERE

Meet the speakers

PS. The lineup will grow in the coming days!

Louise McSharry – Event MC

Broadcaster and writer from Dublin. Louise worked in radio for nineteen years, starting out as a researcher in Newstalk before moving to presenting in iRadio followed by eleven years on air on RTE 2FM.

Her memoir Fat Chance: My Life in Ups, Downs and Crisp Sandwiches was published by Penguin Ireland in 2016. Louise writes a weekly beauty column for the Irish Independent’s Weekend Magazine, and regularly contributes to the paper’s Opinion page.

Her writing has also appeared in The Irish Times, The Sunday Business Post, The Sunday Times Style Magazine, Buzzfeed.com, ThePool.co.uk, TheStrategist.co.uk, and TheJournal.ie among others.

Louise hosts a weekly podcast ‘Catch Up with Louise McSharry’, which aimsto catch people up on news and culture, offer recommendations for music, television and other art forms, and also features short interviews with relevant or interesting people.

Vikki Martin   

CREATOR! Freelance Actor, Presenter, VO, Session Vocalist- Professional Talker! 

Single Mother of two, diagnosed at 38!  

Being nurospicy is my superpower 🦸

Dr. Áine O’Dea

Coach |Supervisor |Occupational Therapist

Dr. O’Dea was the first Occupational Therapist to be awarded one of Ireland’s prestigious SPHeRe scholarships, earning her Doctorate in Public Health Research. She is a passionate advocate for neurodiversity, with a special focus on ADHD, Dyspraxia/DCD, and executive functioning. With a background in public health research and decades of experience in occupational therapy, she brings a deep understanding of how ADHD uniquely impacts women—especially in the realms of emotional fatigue, stress, and the invisible mental load.

Following a career shift due to a car accident, Dr. O’Dea now dedicates her work to coaching, supervision, and workshops that empower neurodivergent professionals—particularly ADHD women—helping them move beyond burnout, perfectionism, and survival mode. For more info -> https://radianceconsultinghub.com

Paula Rave

 Secondary school teacher currently employed as a home school community Liaison officer in a DEIS secondary school in Dublin.  I’ve always known I wasn’t the same as my peers – excess energy; impulsiveness and buckets of empathy.   It was only in seeking out a diagnosis for my son that I started to see how different female ADHD can present – I was a prolific people pleaser and so social, but when I got overwhelmed I tended to withdraw.  In secondary school, truancy was how I coped with this.
ADHD Ireland have helped me understand the noise in my head – why I am the way I am- all the positives and then the way to manage the risks.  I completed the UMMAP with UCD in 2022.

Karen Beckett

Karen Beckett is a chartered psychologist with expertise in ADHD, parenting, and early intervention. She is also a PhD student at the Dublin City University School of Psychology. A mother of four and diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, she brings both professional expertise and personal experience to her work.

She has worked extensively with families, professionals, and service providers to improve outcomes for children and parents with ADHD. With a background in programme development and research, she focuses on bridging the gap between theory and real-world support.

What the Ladies will cover

Vikki Martin

There are tough days, of course, but I’ve found a deep sense of pride in how far I’ve come and how I continue to grow. ADHD doesn’t have to hold me back; it just means I have to approach life in my own way, and that’s okay. Every challenge is an opportunity to learn, and I’ve learned to navigate it all with a smile on my face. It’s not always easy, but it’s my journey—and I’m learning to love every part of it.

Dr. Áine O’Dea

Balancing the Mental Load: Supporting the Silent Struggle of Emotional Fatigue, Stress & Survival Mode for the ADHD Woman.

Being a woman with ADHD means carrying an additional invisible mental load—juggling work, relationships, family, and expectations, which can create an unrecognised chronic stress and emotional fatigue. The world isn’t designed for the ADHD woman’s brain, leaving many stuck in survival mode, feeling overwhelmed and exhausted.

This empowering International Women’s Day talk will explore the unique mental load of ADHD women, why stress hits harder, and how to shift from survival to thriving. You’ll walk away thinking about what practical strategies can help you reduce overwhelm, set boundaries, and navigate life more easily, confidently, and with self-compassion.

Paula Rave

Life before and After. There are certainly tough days, but I take great pride in how far I’ve come and in my ongoing growth. ADHD doesn’t define me or hold me back; it simply means I need to approach life in a way that works for me—and that’s perfectly okay.
Every challenge is a chance to learn, and I’ve come to navigate them all with a positive attitude. It’s not always simple, but it’s my journey, and I’m learning to embrace every step of it.
Karen Beckett

Presentation: Parental ADHD – What We Know So Far

ADHD in parents is often overlooked, yet it has a profound impact on family life. Karen is currently conducting research into parental ADHD and will discuss what existing studies tell us about its challenges and effects. Her research explores how ADHD influences parenting, relationships, and daily life, highlighting the need for better awareness and tailored support.

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