Emer Oneill

Background

About Emer Oneill

Emer O’Neill is an experienced Moderator, Host, and Public Speaker with a passion for Global Citizenship, Anti-Racism, Inclusion & Equity, Neurodiversity, Mental Health, and Women/Girls in Sport. She uses her lived experience and professional background to create meaningful conversations and advocate for positive change. As a TV presenter, Emer kept our young people active during Covid with “Exercise with Emer” on RTÉ’s Home School Hub, Co hosted the Today Show, and broadcasts St. Patrick’s Day Festival live from Dublin City. She also fronted Keep It Up, a six-part docuseries exploring why girls drop out of sports between ages 12-14. A former Irish International Basketball player, she represented Ireland across multiple levels and earned a full basketball scholarship to the U.S. She later coached Ireland’s U20 Women’s Team at the European Championships and worked as an assistant coach at Barry University, Miami. With a BA in Education and a Master’s in Educational Leadership, Emer spent 15 years as a Physical Education teacher and has worked on national education initiatives, including the Anti-Bullying Action Plan 2023 Steering Committee. She develops EDI workshops for schools and organizations, focusing on inclusion and representation. Emer is also a TEDx speaker (Don’t Put Me in a Box), where she shares her experiences of being Black Irish and challenges unconscious bias. She is a founding member of Bray for Love, an anti-racism and inclusion group in Co. Wicklow. As an author, her children’s book, The Same But Different, encourages young readers to embrace diversity, self-acceptance, and inclusion. A mother of three, Emer is passionate about fostering open discussions on identity, representation, and mental health—whether in classrooms, communities, or on screen.