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Supporting new local research and local history studies

 

The Royal Irish Academy today announces the twenty Decade of Centenaries Bursary scheme awardees, as part of the final year of the Decade of Centenaries Programme 2012-2023, supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.

This year, the scheme is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Éamon Phoenix, Historian and Head of Lifelong Learning at Stranmillis University College in Belfast, who was a valued member of the Expert Advisory Group on Centenary Commemorations, which supported and encouraged the development of this scheme.

The Decade of Centenaries bursary scheme was established to encourage and support new local research and local history studies in meaningful examination of local, regional, and national events during the Struggle for Independence and Civil War period.

This scheme acknowledges the important role that local historians often have in communities, as informed and trusted researchers whether, amateur or professional.

  • Alan Noonan for ‘Mapping Cork safe houses during the war of independence’.
  • Angus Mitchell for ‘The hill of Uisneach and the struggle for Irish independence (1906-1928)’.
  • Brian Hughes for ‘Oral history of the Royal Irish Constabulary’.
  • Dawn-Miranda Sherratt Bado for ‘’The war has caught us up’ – a cultural history of the Irish Revolution through women’s writing’.
  • Fiona Brennan for ‘Upstaging a revolution the amateur dramatic movement in Co. Kerry 1923-1936, deflecting from and reflecting upon the revolutionary period’.
  • Istvan Laszlo for ‘Interactive monuments in the digitally mediated city’.
  • John Biggins for ‘Life in the Dáil Courts’.
  • Liam Heffron for ‘The local unionist experience of the Irish Civil War in North Mayo’.
  • Máire McCafferty for ‘Language beyond borders – the relationship between Coláiste Bhríde, Ranafast, and the Irish language movement in Northern Ireland during the 1920s’.
  • Marie Lynch for ‘A decade of disturbance – the impact of revolution and civil war on presentations of mental illness to Ireland’s oldest psychiatric hospital’.
  • Michael Doorley for ‘Dr Patrick McCartan: a revolutionary envoy’.
  • Michael Loughman for ‘A Wexford family sundered: the Ryans of Tomcoole and the Irish Civil War’.
  • Noel Carolan for ‘’Dread story of famine-ghastly state of Connemara’ The early Irish Free State and food supply crisis in 1922 and 1925’.
  • Patirick Mulroe for ‘A profile of border internees in Northern Ireland, 1922’.
  • Patrick O’Brien for ‘The Irish tax man cometh: building the tax system in the Irish Free State, 1923-1925’.
  • Peter Connell for ‘Housing conditions in provincial towns and the 1922 million pound housing scheme’.
  • Richard McElligott for ‘Echoes of war -the everyday legacy of the Civil War in North Kerry 1923-1934’.
  • Ruth McManus for ‘Housing the people, building the state – the community legacy of 1920s Free State housing policy’.
  • Shane Ryan for ‘Similar beginnings, alternative paths’.
  • Terence Dunne for ‘Surviving the revolution’.

These twenty awardees join the fourteen bursaries which were awarded last year and it is expected that all projects will expand local history studies, furthering fields of research relating to the Struggle for Independence and the Civil War period within their communities.

Minister Catherine Martin, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, said:

‘I would like to congratulate the recipients of the 2023 Decade of Centenaries Bursaries.  I announced this initiative last year to acknowledge and highlight the importance of local historians in furthering the field of local research, using local resources and archives. Throughout the Decade of Centenaries, communities have been instrumental in creating opportunities for people to remember, examine and debate events of local historical significance It has become apparent the true extent of the wealth and variety of scholarship and research taking place at local level and I am delighted that the Bursary Scheme could highlight and facilitate this’.

 Dr Maurice Manning, Chair of the Expert Advisory Group on Centenary Commemorations added:

‘The dedication of this year’s bursary to our late friend and Expert Advisory Group member, Dr Éamon Phoenix, is particularly fitting as he was a true supporter and encourager of local communities having a leading role in exploring and sharing their own narratives of their histories and experiences.

Under the considered and experienced guidance of the Royal Irish Academy, the Decade of Centenaries Bursaries have supported 34 projects since its establishment – this is a wonderful achievement, creating a lasting and meaningful legacy for both Éamon and the Decade of Centenaries Programme.’

Professor Pat Guiry, President of the Royal Irish Academy, added:

‘The Academy is delighted to be partnering with the Department for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media on this bursary scheme for the second and final year. We were greatly encouraged by the quality and range of projects funded over the past two years allowing local historians and independent scholars to bring to life the vibrant history of their areas during one of the most pivotal periods in our nation’s development’.

ENDS

Further Information: 

Karen Muldowney, Acting Head of Communications and Public Affairs

Phone: 085 8074544     Email: k.muldowney@ria.ie