All of us wonder what we can do to make life better in a world that seems so complex, challenging and, at times, difficult. The essays in this book show that no matter how big or small, empathetic actions have massive impacts. We rarely know how these affect people and communities, but they reverberate long after we act.

Empathetic people are happier and get more enjoyment out of life. They show greater resilience to mental illness and stress and have better physical health. As well as aiding the good stuff, empathy helps prevent the bad stuff. It is a core element of wisdom and the universal language of the soul, bringing joy to the everyday and making the unbearable bearable.

Ionbhá or empathy is a core element of wisdom and a universal language of the soul. It brings joy to the everyday, making the unbearable bearable. “We need empathy in schools just as we need empathy in the world right now” - Cillian Murphy, Actor and Patron of the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre.

The wide range of contributions to the publication Ionbhá act like a compass, guiding us on things that really matter in life. Reflections on empathy illuminate its healing properties, vividly opening our eyes to the countless ways in which its power can shape us all. This collection shows that no matter how big or small, empathetic actions have a massive impact. Although we rarely appreciate how these actions affect people and their communities, they often reverberate long after we act. 

89 contributors include Michael D. Higgins, Hozier, Tolü Makay, The Edge, Rachael Blackmore, Blindboy Boatclub, Mary Coughlan, Clodagh Finn, Katy Hyland, Imelda May, Brendan O’Connor, Louise O’Neill, Valery Biden Owens and citizens from all walks of life.

All royalties from the sale of this book will go directly to delivering the Activating Social Empathy education programme in Irish schools and youth work organisations.