Page 12 - Autumn 25

Travels in the name of homeopathy – Emily McAteer
BAHVS Junior Vice-President
It was when I attended my first IAVH conference in
Slovenia in 2024 that I realised what a wonderful
international homeopathic veterinary community we
have. I enjoyed every minute of the weekend in Izola. I
met so many new people from all over the world who are
now firm friends. The Slovenians were so welcoming. A
few of my old pals from BAHVS were there and there
were a few other vets I had met at BAHVS congresses. It
was lovely to see everyone together dancing and singing
late into the evening after learning new remedies and
new approaches to treating patients during the day.
I started wondering why there were none of my Irish
friends there and realised how isolated the Irish Sea can
make us. Especially as I had experienced every kilometer
by driving all the way there in my campervan. But that’s
another story. I asked Don Hamilton about us joining as
a group and he was very enthusiastic. I talked to my Irish
colleagues at a wonderful seminar run by Erica Borge and
Tom Farrington in Cork where there were several new
Irish vets being introduced to our healing art. Together
we rounded up 15 colleagues from the Irish Society of
Veterinary Homeopaths to join IAVH earlier this year.
They are relishing being part of the Google forum and
international community as much as I am.
When I was in Edinburgh for the Faculty congress in
November last year I was honoured to be awarded the
Churchill cup for my contribution to homeopathy. I am
very grateful to the committee who have recognised my
attempts to further homeopathy which I am passionate
about. I felt at the time that I had not done much, not
compared to the prestigious names on said cup. It is
probably due to imposter syndrome that I felt it was a
case of “fake it till you make it”. Now I need to fill those
giant shoes. Not least because as Junior Vice President I
will be President of the BAHVS in a couple of years. One
of the contributions I feel I am well placed to make is to
encourage more Irish homeopathic vets to join the
international community.
It has been the story of my life, having one foot in each
country (UK and Ireland). Born to British parents,
growing up in Ireland was not easy in the height of the
troubles. I readily assimilated myself into the Irish way of
life. I love living in Ireland. It is my home and I will be
proud to call myself Irish in the next few weeks when my
naturalisation finally comes through. I am also proud to
call myself a European and even prouder to be a member
of the Global community of homeopaths.
As homeopathy continues to be under attack and our
veterinary members diminish, despite demands for
homeopathic treatment from pet owners increasing, I
feel we need to stand together as we are stronger
together. There is nothing better than having the chats
and laughs with fellow homeopaths. There are no
subjects too wacky or weird. We understand each other
and accept each other. I attended the LMHI congress in
the Netherlands in May and the month before I was at
the IAVH annual congress in Nuremberg and in between
I managed to squeeze in an Inspiring Homeopathy
retreat in Co Wexford with some human homeopaths. I
am living the life as they say!
There was a massive difference between the experiential
Inspiring Homeopathy retreat in Wexford and the Joy of
Homeopathy congress in Utrecht. Admittedly one was a
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