The School of History, UCC

07/05/2026

To mark the 100th Anniversary of the 1926 Census, UCC School of History is hosting a national symposium to reflect on the event, entitled "Census 1926: Capturing a Social and Cultural Moment". The symposium will take place on Monday 25 May in the Aula Maxima and features a set of panels on a diverse range of topics from a wide variety of participants. A copy of the programme can be found here:https://www.ucc.ie/en/media/1newsimages/2026/may/Programme_Census1926_UCCPublicSymposium.pdf

This is free and open to the public, but you must pre-register as space is limited. Information and registration can be found here: https://www.ucc.ie/en/cacsss/news/ucc-to-host-landmark-symposium-on-1926-census.html

Learn, Study and Research in UCC, Ireland's first 5 star university. Our tradition of independent thinking will prepare you for the world and the workplace in a vibrant, modern, green campus.

30/04/2026

The School of History has partnered with Cork Public Museum to organise a conference entitled: "The Huguenots Remembered: France, Ireland, Cork, and Beyond", which takes place on 15-16 May 2026. Attendance is free and open to the public, but pre-booking is essential. Check out the programme on the poster, and register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-huguenots-remembered-france-ireland-cork-and-beyond-tickets-1987837355040 . We hope to see you there!

20/04/2026

Prof. Ciara Breathnach recently published an article in The Conversation about the 1926 Census and its potential impact for researchers and the general public alike.

Plus, tips for your own census search once it’s released.

04/02/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Finola Doyle O'Neill on her successful two-day conference celebrating the centenary of radio in Ireland, exploring its legacy in the country's culture, and thinking about what its future may look like.

Celebrating 100 years of Irish radio An Taoiseach Micheál Martin opened a landmark conference at University College Cork marking radio’s lasting role in Irish public life, culture and democracy. Convened by Dr Finola Doyle O' Neill, the two-day conference explored radio’s rich legacy and looked...

23/12/2025

A documentary examining Daniel O'Connell's life will air on RTÉ over the Christmas holidays (https://www.ucc.ie/en/news/2025/new-documentary-on-daniel-oconnell-to-air-on-rte.html). Directed by Ruán Magan, and co-produced by UCC and the University of Notre Dame, the documentary seeks to explore O'Connell's global impact and his relevance for the world today. One participant, Dr Jay Roszman, wrote a bit about O'Connell and the documentary for RTÉ Brainstorm (https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2025/1218/1549298-daniel-oconnell-global-influence-the-emancipator-documentary/) and was interviewed on the Sean Moncrieff Show (https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-global-influence-of-daniel-oconnell/id250427329?i=1000742340968).

The Documentary airs on RTÉ on 29 December at 6:30pm.

09/12/2025

24/11/2025

The School of History warmly congratulates Dr Melissa Shiels, who was awarded her doctorate at the Autumn Conferrings. Her PhD, “Gift Exchange and the Tudor Subjugation of Ireland: Political Messaging through Material Culture,” was supervised by Dr Dave Edwards and supported by an Excellence Scholarship from the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences at UCC and an IRC Government of Ireland Postgraduate Research Grant.

Dr Shiels is also the winner of the Lord Walter Fitzgerald Essay Competition (2025) and her recent publications include:
●'The Fair Geraldine and the Tudor Court: Proximity, Persuasion, and Presents', Journal of the County Kildare Archaeological Society And Surrounding Districts, Vol. 25, (October 2025), pp. 7-21.
● ‘No mean diplomat’: the gift exchange practices of Shane O’Neill, a Renaissance Gaelic lord’, History Ireland, Vol. 30, no. 6, (Nov/Dec 2022), pp. 20-23.

Melissa recreates historical dress and gives costumed lectures and demonstrations on dress and social history from a 1,000-year-period (from Viking to Victorian). Photos of her recreations and announcements of her public engagements can be found on her Instagram account .melissashiels.

14/11/2025

REMINDER OF THIS EVENT NEXT WEEK:

Gerald of Wales: Identity, Afterlives and Wonders
The First Chris Williams Memorial Colloquium on Ireland and Wales
🗓️ Friday 21st–Saturday 22nd November 2025
📍 O’Rahilly Building, Room G27, UCC
🕛 Friday opening keynote at 12:00pm: Professor Huw Pryce (Professor Emeritus, Bangor University)
Held in memory of Professor Chris Williams, all who knew or worked with him are especially welcome to attend.
The programme brings together early career scholars and established experts to explore various dimensions of the twelfth-century ecclesiastic Gerald of Wales (Giraldus Cambrensis, c. 1126–1223).
Further details and the programme schedule are available on the School of History website: 🔗 https://www.ucc.ie/.../the-first-chris-williams-memorial....
We warmly welcome all to attend. Queries can be directed to Dr Natasha Dukelow ([email protected])

06/11/2025

A proud day at the UCC Autumn Conferrings as three of our former PhD students were officially conferred with their doctorates. Congratulations to Dr Shruti Rajgopal, Dr Melissa Shiels, and Dr Elizabeth Tanner!

30/10/2025

Join the School of History at University College Cork for:

Gerald of Wales: Identity, Afterlives and Wonders

The First Chris Williams Memorial Colloquium on Ireland and Wales

🗓️ Friday 21st–Saturday 22nd November 2025
📍 O’Rahilly Building, Room G27, UCC
🕛 Friday opening keynote at 12:00pm: Professor Huw Pryce (Professor Emeritus, Bangor University)

Held in memory of Professor Chris Williams, all who knew or worked with him are especially welcome to attend.

The programme brings together early career scholars and established experts to explore various dimensions of the twelfth-century ecclesiastic Gerald of Wales (Giraldus Cambrensis, c. 1126–1223).

Further details and the programme schedule are available on the School of History website: 🔗 https://www.ucc.ie/en/history/news/the-first-chris-williams-memorial-colloquium-on-ireland-and-wales.html.

We warmly welcome all to attend. Queries can be directed to Dr Natasha Dukelow ([email protected])