Eilís Coe

Eilís Coe is a Dubliner, born in Clondalkin in 1942. She entered the Sisters of Charity in Dublin in 1961. After her novitiate, she trained as a primary school teacher and taught in Dublin for eight years, during which time she completed a bachelor's degree in Irish and English language and literature and a Higher Diploma in Education at UCD.In 1974, Eilís was missioned to Zambia, where she taught English language and literature and religious education in secondary schools. She also taught in Botswana from 1994 to 1996.

Back in Dublin in 1998, Eilís obtained a master'ss degree in spirituality at the Milltown Institute. She then became involved in giving retreats in the model of At Home Retreats adapted for groups by S.r Elizabeth O'Brien, RSC, and Monica Cassidy. In 2007, Eilís began to work in the Religious of Ireland Anti Human Trafficking group, APT (Act to Prevent Trafficking). Within the group, Eilís belongs to the subgroup working on social media. Much of her time is given to writing material for the website, www.aptireland.org. Many of the real-life stories were written by her.

In 2007, Eilís trained as a leader of creative writing groups with Amherst Artists and Writers, founded by Pat Schneider, and has led groups in different areas in Dublin. Her preference is to work with groups that are, in Pat's word, "underserved," i.e., incarcerated women, immigrants, seniors and drug users, enabling these people to find their voices. In 2012, aged 70, Eilís completed a master's degree in applied Christian spirituality at All Hallows College, Dublin. Her dissertation was titled, "Towards a Spirituality of Transformation Through Writing: Through writing, change happens." Currently, Eilís is a board member of RENATE, Religious in Europe Network Against Trafficking and Exploitationb and continues to give her retreats and lead writing groups.