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Patrick (Barney) Callaghan

Region(s) Cork, Kerry, Limerick-Galway, Clare, Laois, Offaly, Westmeath
Company: Career Decisions / CDT (Coach Develop Transform)

Qualifications and Affiliations


MSc, Personal and Management Coaching, UCC 2015
MA in Change Management, University of Brighton 2001
Postgraduate Diploma in Business Research, University of Brighton 2000
Train the Trainers Certificate, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development 2007
Diploma in Outdoor Education, College of Marketing and Design 1989
Diploma in Youth Studies, National University of Ireland, Maynooth 1987
Bachelor of Commerce, University College Galway 1978
Board of Management Training, Joint managerial Body (JMB) 2014
Education Law Training, (JMB) 2014
Registered Member of the British Psychological Society as tester for Ability and Personality Assessments including 15FQ+ Personality Profiles, Values-based Indicator of Motivation (VbIM), Jung Type Indicators (JTI), and Emotional Intelligence
Certified Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®) Practitioner, OPP/ Myers-Briggs Company, 2004

Affiliations/Memberships
Member of the International Coach Federation (ICF)
Registered on the British Psychological Society (BPS) Register of Qualifications in Test Use
Fellow of the Irish Institute of Training and Development (FIITD)
Associate Member of Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)

Experience in one to one coaching


As part of the Career Decisions/CDT team who have successfully coached over 400 School Principals, Barney brings over 35 years’ experience in leadership, coaching and management, enabling people to harness their unique strengths to improve their professional and personal performance and impact.

Barney has coached principals in primary and post primary schools, DEIS schools and urban and rural schools. He has vast experience working with school principals, teachers, volunteers and young people as CEO of Gaisce - The Presidents Awards.

Barney has worked as Chairman of a Board of Management of a Voluntary Secondary School and as a Board member of an ETB School leading and managing the amalgamation of a Voluntary and an ETB School into a community college.

Specialist expertise includes:
• Goal setting and managing time
• Working with your management team and effective delegation
• Strategies for achieving work life balance
• Working effectively with difficult people and situations
• More effective/harmonious staff relationships
• Raising individual awareness and developing reflective abilities
• Planning and identifying your high pay off activities
• How to say no while keep channels of communication open & effective

While his coaching style is person-centred and very supportive, it is challenging in that the principal is facilitated to achieve clarity on what they are trying to achieve and to name accurately what is happening in their personal and professional lives.

“As a coach Barney will forever have a positive impact on my approach to leadership. I found his perspectives thoughtful and insightful. My engagement with him began at a time when I found myself in a newly expanded leadership role and his experience and wisdom proved invaluable. My time with Barney enabled me to discuss confidential and specific situations with a trusted third party and to receive relevant, solid feedback which has guided my career journey and led to further career success. Thank you Barney.”
Senior Leader


CSL is funded by the Teacher Education Section (TES) of the Department of Education (DE)
This service is managed by Clare Education Centre.