Cillian Murphy’s Secret Mission: How He’s Revolutionizing Education in Ireland!

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – In a compelling fusion of education, activism, and the arts, the “Acting with Empathy” event in Dublin earlier this year underscored the critical role of empathy education in shaping future generations. The event, co-hosted by the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre and Irish actor Cillian Murphy, attracted notable figures from Penn State University, including Sabine Klahr, interim vice provost for Penn State Global, and Marc Brennan, professor and UNESCO chair. Also present were Max Crowle and Michael Donovan from the Penn State Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center, along with two student delegates.

Held at the historic Stella Theater, this private gathering featured a special screening of Small Things Like These, an adaptation of Claire Keegan’s novel. Following the film, Irish broadcaster John Kelly led a discussion, while Murphy participated in a live Q&A session, shedding light on his continued advocacy for empathy education.

For over a decade, Murphy has been a vocal supporter of youth voices and empathy education, an effort that has garnered significant international attention. Brennan praised Murphy’s influence, stating, “Cillian has been a massive advocate for youth voice and empathy education for over 10 years. His patronage of the UNESCO Centre in Galway has allowed the importance of empathy to become elevated to such a wider global audience. His support and impact have truly been a game changer.”

Since its inception in 2017, the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre’s Empathy Project has been a pioneer in creating programs designed to foster empathy in young people. This initiative aims to develop curricula for secondary schools, provide programs for community youth work, and guide policy frameworks for governments. One of the flagship efforts within the project is the Activating Empathy program, developed in collaboration with the Penn State Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and Education. The program has had profound success in teaching young people empathy, social values, and civic engagement across Ireland.

This 12-week curriculum is specifically designed for teachers and students between the ages of 14 and 25, focusing on practical applications of empathy in real-world scenarios. Students are encouraged not just to learn about empathy but to actively practice it through community-based social action projects. As Brennan explained, “Empathy isn’t about sympathy; it’s about trying to understand each other. In our divided society and world, the ability to understand where others are coming from is huge.”

A key resource born from this initiative is Ionbhá: The Empathy Book for Ireland, co-edited by Brennan and Murphy alongside Pat Dolan and Gillian Browne. The book, which features reflections on empathy from figures such as President Michael Higgins and musician Hozier, serves as a companion to the Activating Social Empathy curriculum, further highlighting Ireland’s commitment to embedding empathy in its educational framework.

The impact of the empathy education initiative has been profound. The program has been implemented in 25 Irish schools, resulting in positive changes in student attitudes, social values, and interpersonal behaviors. Evaluations have shown that students not only develop stronger empathy skills but also grow personally, with a reduced occurrence of bullying and violence within schools.

Reflecting on the program’s success, Brennan remarked, “The demand from schools, universities, and a wide range of other settings for the empathy education curriculum has been enormous. It’s amazing to see that people get it. Empathy isn’t about sympathy; it’s about trying to understand each other. In our divided society and world, the ability to understand where others are coming from is huge.”

As the UNESCO Centre at the University of Galway and Penn State University look toward the future, there are ambitious plans to further expand the impact of empathy education globally. One such initiative is the launch of the UNESCO Global Observatory for Youth Empathy and Engaged Citizenship, set to be co-located with Penn State. The observatory aims to bring together international partners to focus on empathy, global citizenship, and social justice, with the ultimate goal of fostering more stable and civil societies through education and research.

The Global Observatory will serve as a think tank, where researchers can share findings, develop new interventions, and support young people around the world in cultivating empathy and civic engagement. As Brennan concluded, the movement to make empathy a global priority is gaining momentum, and the future looks increasingly hopeful for youth education initiatives centered on understanding and collaboration.

This event marked another milestone in the ongoing effort to promote empathy as a cornerstone of education, with Cillian Murphy’s involvement continuing to inspire both students and educators alike to build a more compassionate and connected world.