Jane Connolly O’ Donovan grew up within the beam of the Galley Head lighthouse and the sounds and smell of the Atlantic Ocean in Castlefreke. Castlefreke woodland was a frequent playground on the way home from school and for weekend family walks and picnics. Jane made her decision to move back to West Cork, infamous for its rooted lifestyle and close sense of community, in 2005. She feels privileged that her family can have these experiences so easily.
Jane was on An Bord Altranais live register for adult general nursing for fifteen years. She nursed in a variety of Irish and Australian Hospitals. Jane is employed as a Manual and People Handling Advisor in the Quality and Risk Department in the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, Cork. Her responsibilities include the hospital handling policies, procedures, complex patient handling cases, the coordination of mandatory courses and on-site task-specific training to staff from varied disciplines, supporting staff returning to work with identified musculoskeletal handling difficulties and workplace handling assessments. She is an associate member of the Irish Ergonomic Society.
Jane is always at her happiest amongst people. She understands the juggle of balancing self-care between her role at work, as a partner, a mother, a family member, a colleague and a friend. She likes to challenge herself and is always open to learning and new creative experiences. Jane has ITEC holistic therapy and QQI Level 6 and HSE training qualifications. Music, gardening, forest bathing, a good network of loyal friends and attending classes in painting, craft making, and Pilates keep life interesting and balanced for Jane.
Since learning the skills to be a Forest Bathing Guide Jane is thankful for the opportunities to practice them in her well-known trails and to spend meaningful time in her childhood woods. After which Jane notices feeling calm, connected and content. Research in Japan has shown that a small amount of time of nature emersion can have a positive impact on physical and mental health.