phd in irish history

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Irish History Research Group

Edinburgh University is one of the world’s leading centres for the advanced study of modern Irish history, with a tradition of excellence dating back over 40 years.

The Group has unique strengths in the history of Ireland under the Union (1801-1921), Irish-British relations, the history of nationalism and unionism, comparative and transnational history, Scottish-Irish history, and the history of the global Irish diaspora since 1700.

Current major research projects include a comparative study of political unions in European history and the Irish encounter with modernity since 1780, supported by a number of prestigious research awards from the Arts and Humanities Research Council, the British Academy, the Economic and Social Research Council, the Leverhulme Trust and the Marie Sklodowska-Curie European Commission Programme. Since 2007 we have won over £1 million in highly competitive external funding awards.

We have close working relationships with a number of Irish universities and the Irish Research Council. Two members of the group are Honorary Members of the Royal Irish Academy (only 30 or so scholars in the humanities and social sciences worldwide hold this distinction) and the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and one is a Fellow of the British Academy. One of the group was appointed by the Irish Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to the Irish Manuscripts Commission , the first such appointment from outside the island of Ireland. We have established links with the modern Irish history group at Cambridge University, including holding regular joint PhD workshops in both Edinburgh and Cambridge. We also work closely with colleagues at the major North American centres of Irish Studies at Boston College, the University of Notre Dame and New York University.

Our aim is to explore the history of modern Ireland in a comparative, transnational and global context, with a particular focus on political, social and cultural relationships with Scotland, England and Wales, as well the principal countries in which the Irish have settled in over the last three centuries.

Graduate students work on a wide range of topics and hold funding awards from the Arts and Humanities Research Council, the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland, the Economic and Social Research Council as well as University and School studentships. We also host the only PhD scholarship in the UK devoted exclusively to the study of Irish history, the Justin Arbuthnott PhD Scholarship in Modern Irish History.

The activities of the group include hosting a seminar series, which features many of the most original scholars working in the field from Ireland, Britain and further afield, a fortnightly early career researchers’  workshop, and the annual Justin Arbuthnott Lecture in British-Irish Relations, delivered in recent years by distinguished figures including Tom Bartlett,  Mary E. Daly, Diarmaid Ferriter, Fintan O’Toole and Roy Foster.

We regularly host symposia and workshops on aspects of Irish history including recent events on 'Writing the Troubles', ‘The Irish Border’, ‘The 1918 General Election’, ‘Abortion in Ireland: A Transformative Moment?’, 'History, Storytelling and 1916’ and ‘Transnational Irish History'. In July 2022 we will host the ‘Ireland and Sexualities in History’ workshop.

Membership of the Group

Co-ordinator.

Professor Alvin Jackson

Academic, honorary and emeritus staff members

Professor Ewen Cameron

Professor Enda Delaney

Sir Tom Devine

Owen Dudley Edwards

PhD students

James Bright – Loyalty in Captivity: Ideas and Identity among Ulster Loyalist Paramilitary Prisoners, 1976-1987

Dannii Browbank – The Thin Orange Line: Policing Protestants, Unionists and Loyalists in Northern Ireland, 1968-1986

Niamh Coffey (AHRC CDA Studentship, with University of Strathclyde) – Emigrant Irish Women and Dundee’s Textile Industry, 1845-1922

Saul Farrell – The Gaelic League and the Irish Nation State, 1893-1922

Abigail Fletcher (Justin Arbuthnott PhD Scholarship) – From Partition to Decriminalisation: Homosexuality in Northern Ireland 1921-1982

Dexter Govan (Justin Arbuthnott PhD Scholarship) – The Orange Order in Belfast and Glasgow, 1910 to 1914

Anna Lively (AHRC Studentship) –Transnational Connections between the Russian and Irish Revolutions, 1905-23

Gareth Lyle –  Belfast and the Great War: A Case Study

Callum Northcote – For King and Republic: Former British Servicemen and the Republican Movement

Completed PhD students

Bobbie Nolan (AHRC Studentship) – Language and Identity among Irish Migrants in San Francisco, Philadelphia and London, 1850-1920, Teaching Assistant, School of History and Geography, Dublin City University

Roseanna Doughty - Representations of the Northern Ireland 'Troubles' within the British media, 1973-1997, Associate Lecturer in Irish History at Newcastle University

Stuart Clark (Carnegie Trust) – The Scots in Ireland under the Union: The Boundaries of Britishness, c.1800-1925

Catherine Bateson (AHRC Studentship) – The Culture and Sentiments of Irish American Civil War Songs, Associate Lecturer in American History, University of Kent

Joseph Curran (ESRC Studentship) – Civil Society in the Stateless Capital: Charity and Authority in Dublin and Edinburgh, c.1815-c.1845, Irish Research Council Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellow, Trinity College Dublin

Sophie Cooper (McFarlane Scholar) – Identity and Nationalism in the Irish Diaspora: Melbourne and Chicago, 1850-1890, Lecturer in Liberal Arts, Queen’s University Belfast

Andrew Phemister (School Doctoral Award) – ‘Our American Aristotle’: Henry George and the Republican Tradition during the Transatlantic Irish Land War, 1877-1887, Irish Research Council Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellow, NUI Galway

Thomas Dolan (AHRC Studentship) – History in the Thought of the Architects of Peace in Northern Ireland, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of York

Lindsey Flewelling – Ulster Unionism and America, 1880-1920, Historic Preservation Officer, City of Denver Colorado

Devon McHugh – Family, Leisure, and the Arts: Aspects of the Culture of the Aristocracy of Ulster, 1870-1925, Senior Partnerships Manager, Museums Galleries Scotland

Helen O’Shea (AHRC Studentship) – Ireland and the Cyprus Insurgency, Lecturer in History at the Open University

Melanie Sayers – Philip Kerr, Lord Lothian, and Ireland

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UCC University College Cork

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Phd in history.

The School of History at UCC is a leading international centre for Postgraduate research in History, International Relations and European Studies.  Our PhD graduates have published work of international quality and have an excellent employment track record.  For details on areas of potential PhD supervision please see individual staff profiles .

Further information on the PhD in UCC is available at the following links:

https://www.ucc.ie/en/study/postgrad/faq/

https://www.ucc.ie/en/cacsss/grads/future_postgrads/research_courses/phds/

https://www.ucc.ie/admin/registrar/calendar/postgraduate/Doctor/page001.html

How to apply

To be eligible for entry to a course of study and research for the PhD, a candidate must have reached a standard of at least a Second Class Honours, Grade I, at the Examination for the Primary Degree, or presented such other evidence as will satisfy the Head of School and the Faculty of his/her fitness. Appropriate Masters’ graduates with at least Second Class Honours can also apply for direct entry to a PhD.

Guidelines regarding the PhD are also available in more detail at this link .

The candidate shall pursue research for a period of three years full-time (six years part-time) from the date of first registration for the programme. The length of PhD theses should not exceed 80,000 words. The candidate’s research must be carried out, and the Thesis for the Degree must be prepared, under the direction of a Supervisor. Permission to submit a theses must be approved by the Supervisor and Head of School. A leaflet giving full information on the format, layout and presentation of PhD Theses is available from the student Records and Examinations Office.

It is the responsibility of the PhD student to notify the Exams Office of his/her intention to submit at least three months prior to the proposed date of thesis submission. Rules governing submission are available from the Examinations Office together with the necessary forms. The supervisor will arrange a Viva for the PhD Student following submission and informs Extern and Student of dates, times etc.

Link to application procedures

Recent publications by History graduates

The School of History at UCC is a leading international centre for Postgraduate study in History, International Relations and European Studies.  Our PhD graduates have published work of international quality.  Recent books based on graduate research in the School include:

• John Borgonovo, The Dynamics of War and Revolution: Cork City, 1916-1918 . Cork: Cork University Press, 2013.
• Sarah-Anne Buckley , The Cruelty Man: Child Welfare, the NSPCC and the State in Ireland, 1889-1956 . London: Manchester University Press, 2013.
• Michael Patrick Cullinane, Liberty and American Anti-Imperialism.   New York and London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2012.
• Laurence Fenton, Palmerston and the Times: Foreign Policy, the Press and Public Opinion in Mid-Victorian Britain .  London: I.B. Taurus, 2013.
• David Fitzgerald, Learning to Forget: US Army Counterinsurgency Doctrine and Practice from Vietnam to Iraq , Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2013.
• Michelle O’Mahony, Famine in Cork City, Mercier Press, Cork 2005.
• James Ryan, Lenin's Terror and the Ideological Origins of Early Soviet State Violence . London: Routledge, 2012.
• Sally-Ann Treharne, Reagan and Thatcher's Special Relationship: Latin America and Anglo-American Relations.  Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2014. 

Recent academic appointments in History

History graduates have an excellent track record in terms of employability, both inside and outside academia.  Recent academic appointments include:

• Dr. Ruth Canning, Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellow, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada.
• Dr. Sarah-Anne Buckley, Lecturer, Department of History, NUI Galway.
• Dr. Michael Patrick Cullinane, Senior Lecturer in History and Director of Online Learning, Northumbria University, Newcastle, England.
• Dr Julianne Nyhan, Lecturer in Digital Humanities, Department of Information Studies, University College London, UK. 
• Dr. James Ryan, Lecturer in Modern European History at Cardiff University, Wales, UK. 
• Dr. William Steding, Fellow, Center for Presidential History, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas.

Why Study History?

Teaching & learning, history handbook 2023/2024, postgraduate programmes, graduate profiles & testimonials, history scholarships, school of history, scoil na staire.

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Masters/PhD in History

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Brief Description

The Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences is an excellent choice for postgraduate students whose talents and interests lie in subjects such as history; sociology; politics; law; music and languages (English, Irish, French, German, Spanish, Japanese, TESOL). The Faculty offers particular research strengths in the following areas: Criminal Justice; Applied Language Studies; European Studies; Irish German Studies; Peace and Development Studies; International and Commercial Law; International Politics; Social Policy; Gender Studies; Utopian Studies; and Literary or Cultural Studies. Students can choose to do a research degree at Master of Arts/LLM or PhD level in any of these subjects or areas.

• If you enjoyed researching and writing your final year project/graduate thesis or your MA dissertation, then you might enjoy carrying out a more in-depth piece of research at MA (by research) or PhD level.
• •FAHSS research students are part of a lively community; every student has his/her own research space with individual PC and desk;
• Funding is available to research students annually to take part in international conferences and carry out fieldwork/archival visits in Ireland and overseas;
• Research degrees develop a wide range of skills that are valued by employers (for example, excellent communication skills (written and oral), and critical/analytical skills);
• Our PhD and MA graduates are employed in a wide range of sectors: education, media and publishing, research and consultancy, civil and public service, business, non-governmental sector, creative arts and media, and politics and local government.

Programme Content

In addition to carrying out research, students enrolled on an MA by Research/PhD take part in generic/transferable skills training, including, for example, research methodologies and statistics, interview skills and career planning, bibliographical management, academic writing, and research networking.

MA by Research:

• A Master’s degree by thesis involves in-depth research on a topic leading to a thesis of 60,000 words over the course of one to two years.

MA by Research/PhD:

• Students may start an MA research thesis, but then apply to transfer to a PhD after their first year if research is expanding; or students may register for a PhD thesis directly.
• This involves in-depth research on a topic and an original contribution to knowledge, leading to a thesis of 100,000 words, examined by a viva voce exam. The PhD thesis generally takes 4 years to complete.

Entry Requirements Applicants will normally be expected to hold an Honours degree (minimum 2.1) or equivalent in a discipline appropriate to their area of proposed research. Entry points may differ for applicants with postgraduate qualifications. Please contact the Course Director for further information.

Fees for all postgraduate programmes are revised on an annual basis.  Detailed information on fee schedules and fee regulations is available on the Fees Office website.  

Payment by instalment is facilitated by the Fees Office. 

Please contact the Fees Office directly at [email protected] for details.

See what our Gradauate Research Students have to say.

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Graduate and Professional Studies

+353 (0)61 234377 University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland

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The best Irish studies programs in North America

Irish Studies programs at North American universities is a growing trend.

Today, there are dozens of programs across the U.S. and Canada, many of which provide an interdisciplinary approach to learning about a rich Celtic culture that's existed since the dawn of Western civilization.

IrishCentral has compiled a list of 10 exemplary Irish Studies programs in North America, complete with each program's philosophy and what they have to offer.

Here are our editor's picks:

NOTRE DAME UNIVERSITY - Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies

Location: Notre Dame, Indiana

Program: Undergraduate Minor, Graduate Degree

About: The Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies is an interdisciplinary project devoted to teaching and research in Irish culture in all its internal and external relations. Established in 1993 under the intellectual leadership of Professor Seamus Deane, the Keough-Naughton Institute’s faculty now includes leaders in Literature, History, Film, Television and Theater and it is regularly supplemented by visiting professors, some of whom come to Notre Dame as Naughton Fellows in a reciprocal arrangement with Irish universities.

Christopher Fox, Director Sean O’Brien, Assistant Director Beth Bland, Senior Administrative Assistant574-631-3555 [email protected]

BOSTON COLLEGE - Center for Irish Programs

Location: Chestnut Hill, MA

The Center for Irish Programs at Boston College brings together all University Irish Initiatives. It has oversight responsibility for the Irish Studies program, the Irish Institute, the Burns Library Irish Collections, the Center for Irish Programs - Dublin, and the Irish Music Program. Boston College was founded, in part, to educate the sons of famine emigrants from Ireland who settled in Boston. The Center for Irish Programs continues this important aspect of the University's mission and heritage.

Thomas E. Hachey, Director Rachel Bowes, Program Coordinator 617-552-3938 [email protected]

NEW YORK UNIVERSITY - Glucksman Ireland House

Location: New York, NY

Located in the heart of New York's Greenwich Village, Glucksman Ireland House is the center for Irish Studies at New York University, with courses in history, Irish language, literature, music and politics. NYU undergraduates may pursue a minor or a B.A./M.A. in Irish and Irish-American Studies. Graduate students may earn a Masters in Irish and Irish-American Studies

For the New York community, they present a weekly public events series during the academic year, as well as a monthly traditional Irish music series.

Joe Lee, Chair & Director 212-998-3950 [email protected] CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY - Center for Irish Studies

Location: Washington D.C.

Program: Master’s Degree

Irish studies at Catholic University has been present for over a century: the university established the first professorship devoted to teaching the Irish language in 1896. They offer an interdisciplinary Master’s degree in Irish Studies. The interdisciplinary nature of the program gives students the opportunity to take a range of courses from various university departments, as well as a semester-long Parliamentary Internship in Dublin.

Christina Hunt-Mahony, Acting Director 202-319-5488 [email protected]

UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS HOUSTON - Center for Irish Studies Location: Houston, TX

Program: Undergraduate Minor, Graduate Concentration

On January 23, 2003, the Center for Irish Studies opened in the Link Lee Mansion. Today the Center for Irish Studies resides at 4110 Mt. Vernon on the UST campus. In its short history, the Center for Irish Studies has made its mark by offering a wide range of cultural events to the University community and the community at large as well as a broad array of academic courses in Irish Studies, both on campus and in Ireland.

Lori Meghan Gallagher, J.D., Director 713-525-3592 [email protected]

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY - Center for Canadian Irish Studies

Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Program: Canadian Irish Studies Undergraduate Minor, Graduate Certificate

The Center for Canadian Irish Studies was created in 2000 through the joint financial support of Concordia University and the Canadian Irish Studies Foundation. Its mandate is to promote a fuller understanding of Ireland and the Irish experience in Canada. The Center coordinates a Minor and a Certificate in Canadian Irish Studies, an annual public lecture series by scholars and distinguished figures in Irish cultural life, scholarships in Canadian Irish Studies and special outreach projects of interest both to academics and the Irish community in Canada.

Michael Kenneally, Director (514) 848-8711 ( [email protected]

QUEENS COLLEGE - Irish Studies

Location: Flushing, NY

Program: Undergraduate Minor, Possible Interdisciplinary Major

The Undergraduate Irish Studies minor at Queens College is intended for all students interested in the study of the rich and varied cultures of Ireland. For students majoring in English, Comparative Literature, History or Political Science, the Minor in Irish Studies provides a way for students to do intensive study in Irish culture- including the Irish language, Anglo-Irish literature, archaeology, film studies, and history. Students interested in an interdisciplinary major in Irish Studies (through Interdisciplinary and Special Studies) can consult with the Director of Irish Studies.

Clare Carroll, Director 718-997-5691 [email protected]

MANHATTANVILLE COLLEGE - Irish Studies

Location: Purchase, N.Y.

Program: Undergraduate Minor

The Irish Studies Undergraduate Program offers an interdisciplinary minor in the history and culture of Ireland and the Irish Diaspora, from the early Christian period to the present. Contemporary trends underscore the extraordinarily diverse character that Irish Studies has assumed in the last two decades. The aim of the program is to provide the student with a comprehensive appreciation of the Irish experience through a range of courses drawn from different disciplines and reflecting the richness and complexity of this field of study.

Irene Whelan, Director 914-323-5145 [email protected]

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN MADISON - Celtic Studies Program

Location: Madison, Wisconsin

Program: Undergraduate Certificate

The Celtic Studies Program is a regular unit of the College of Letters and Science at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Celtic Studies is a multidisciplinary field encompassing the history and culture of those peoples who presently inhabit the northwestern perimeter of Europe, including Ireland (both north and south), Scotland, Wales, Brittany and the Isle of Man. The Program's mission is to facilitate the integrated examination of these various fields and topics. The Program offers an undergraduate Certificate in Celtic Studies.Undergraduates can also major in Celtic Studies under the provisions of the individual major program.

Mary Bowles, Director 608-263-3935 [email protected]

VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY - Irish Studies

Location: Villanova, Pennsylvania

Program: Undergraduate Concentration

The Undergraduate Concentration in Irish Studies is available to students in all degree programs. Villanova Irish Studies explores the history and culture of the Irish people from different perspectives — literature, history, art, politics and folklore. Interested students may also study in Ireland either in a Semester Abroad program or with the Villanova in Ireland Summer program at NUI Galway.

James Murphy, Program Advisor 610-519-4647 [email protected]

Links to Irish Studies programs in the U.S. and Canada: CLICK HERE Links to Irish Studies resources: CLICK HERE

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MA in Irish History

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Tuesday, 1 February, 2022

UCD’s dynamic School of History, the largest in the country, has long played a vital role in leading national debate and research on the evolution of Irish society, culture and politics. This MA enables students to work closely with some of the country’s most renowned historians of Ireland to continue the tradition of providing context, insight and originality in the research of Irish history and its communication to a wide audience. Our teaching is informed by a global perspective, situating events in Ireland in an international and comparative context. UCD faculty  have diverse research interests and our module choices reflect this, ranging from the medieval to the modern period and thematically across histories of religion, the environment, medicine and deviancy, gender and war, and twentieth century Irish society and politics.  

Students take 60 credits of taught modules, including core modules in historiography and dissemination, and two options. They can follow their own research interests (for example, selecting to focus primarily on the Early Modern period or the twentieth century) and in their choice of topic for their dissertations. The 30 remaining credits are allocated to the 15,00 word dissertation,  a substantial piece of original research. Students will become familiar with the extensive Irish history collections in UCD Archives and UCD Library Special Collections and will have the opportunity to explore other archives and libraries located a short distance away in Dublin city centre. There is a lively and dynamic research culture in UCD and students are encouraged to attend our seminar series in gender history, war studies, global history, and those organised by the Mícheál Ó Cléirigh Institute for the Study of Irish History and Civilisation, and the Centre for the History of Medicine in Ireland. 

The MA in Irish History is suitable for those with some background in history or a related humanities subject who are interested in exploring Ireland’s past. Applicants who have not studied Irish history before are very welcome to apply.  We have both part-time and full-time pathways.

There is a scholarship available for students on the MA in Irish History who are interested in pursuing research in military history. One will be awarded each year to a suitable candidate and it includes payment of the programme fee plus a €5000 stipend. See further information here: Colonel Michael Hefferon Memorial Scholarship ' page"> Colonel Michael Hefferon Memorial Scholarship . 

What will I study?

Students take 60 credits of taught modules, including core modules in historiography and dissemination, and two options. They can follow their own research interests (for example, selecting to focus primarily on the Early Modern period or the twentieth century) and in their choice of topic for their dissertations. Please see the available modules listed here

The 30 remaining credits are allocated to the 15,00 word dissertation, a substantial piece of original research. Students will become familiar with the extensive Irish history collections in UCD Archives and UCD Library Special Collections and will have the opportunity to explore other archives and libraries located a short distance away in Dublin city centre.

People Teaching You

Course Director: (opens in a new window) Professor Diarmaid Ferriter

What can I do with this degree?

Our graduates are highly valued by employers for their skills of critical thinking, communication and analysis. They have progressed into posts in the civil service, diplomacy, marketing and communications, media, policy and research, museum and heritage work, and education. 

Student Experience

Roisin Guyett-Nicholson MA 2018 Writing a research dissertation is at the core of this course, and enabled me to undertake a significant amount of individual research. The support of my supervisor and the other academics in the School was invaluable, while the small group seminars developed my research skills and knowledge of Irish History, giving me a strong foundation from which I could base my dissertation. The conference module, organised by students was a particular highlight, offering an opportunity for students to present their original research. The research, writing, editing and presentation skills were all key for this MA course, and are ones I use on a regular basis in my current role in Communications and Marketing at UCD.  

For more information on fees and how to apply please follow this link .

Additional Information for Applicants

What you will need for your application.

Applicants are required to provide the following in their applications:

• An academic writing sample, eg. an essay (there is no word limit)
• A most recent transcript
• Contact details of two academic referees (professors who taught you)
• Two written academic references outlining your academic history, interest and performance in class.
• A letter of motivation/personal statement
• An application fee
• An English language test score (if English is not your first language). Please follow this  link  for more information.

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Ph.D. Program

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The Ph.D. degree in History is offered with concentrations in United States, medieval, early modern European, modern European (including British/Irish/British Empire), Asian, and Middle Eastern history. We also offer course work in African and Latin American history.

During the first semester of full-time study, doctoral students choose a faculty advisor, who oversees the student's progress in preparing for comprehensive exams and in developing a dissertation topic.

The Ph.D. is a research degree and requires special commitment and skills. While the degree is not granted for routine adherence to certain regulations, or for the successful completion of a specified number of courses, there are certain basic requirements.

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Course Requirements

Plan of study, fields of study, language requirement, the comprehensive exam, dissertation proposal, the dissertation.

Students in the Ph.D. program must complete a minimum of 39 credits (13 courses). Thirty-six credits must be completed before the oral comprehensive exam. All students in the Ph.D. program are required to pursue full-time study in the first year. Students must take at least one seminar in each of their first two years and at least three colloquia (the Introduction to Doctoral Studies, one in a major area, and one in a minor area) before the comprehensive exam.

Only history courses numbered 4000 or above count towards the doctoral requirements. In the first year, students take three courses per semester; in the second, two courses per semester. In the third year, students take two courses in the fall, complete their comprehensive exam, and then take the Dissertation Seminar in the spring. By the end of the third year, Ph.D. students should have completed all 39 credits. After the Dissertation Proposal is signed and filed, students officially enter into doctoral candidacy (informally known as All But Dissertation or ABD).

At the start of each academic year, students meet with the Director of Graduate Studies to go over their plan of study, which is a schedule of courses that will prepare students for the comprehensive examination. For the comprehensive exam students must prepare three areas of concentration or fields, typically two major and one minor. In exceptional circumstances students may pick four areas of concentration, two major and two minor. For each area of concentration, students must identify a faculty member who will serve as an examiner.

In consultation with the examiner for each area students develop a reading list of important books and articles. Most faculty members require students to undertake formal coursework in preparation for the comprehensive exam. With the approval of the advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies, students may offer for their minor field a discipline related to history or a historical topic that cuts across traditional geographical or chronological boundaries. If necessary to a student’s program, the department may require advanced-level study in a related discipline, either as a minor field or as supplemental work. This plan of study may be reviewed, evaluated and revised as necessary. However, changes must be approved by the faculty advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies.

American History

• Early America
• U.S. to 1877
• U.S. since 1860
• Environmental
• Foreign Policy
• Gender and Sexuality

Latin American

• Colonial Latin America
• Modern Latin America
• Early Medieval
• Late Medieval

Early Modern European

• Intellectual and Cultural
• Gender and Women

Modern European

• Modern Europe
• Contemporary Europe
• Imperialism
• Modern Germany
• Modern Ireland
• Middle East
• India and South Asia

Transnational

• Atlantic World

The language requirement is specific to Ph.D. candidates’ major field of study. Medievalists must pass three language exams, one of which must be in Latin. US historians must pass one language exam (beginning with the class entering in the fall of 2021). In all other fields (Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, Middle East), Ph.D. candidates must pass two language exams. Students will pass one language exam during the first year in the program, and the second (and third, if applicable) exam before taking the oral comprehensive examination. Students may substitute competency in a field of particular methodological or theoretical relevance to their program of study for competency in a second foreign language. To do so, students must petition the Graduate Committee and explain the nature of the field and its importance to the plan of study, particularly the dissertation. Work done in that field must be documented. The student’s faculty advisor is responsible for certifying that the student has satisfactorily acquired the appropriate skills and knowledge.

An oral comprehensive examination for Ph.D. students is conducted by an examining board composed of three faculty members, two from the student’s major area and one each from the minor area. (Students preparing four areas will be examined by four faculty members.) A written examination may be substituted for an oral exam at the discretion of the student and the examining board.

Students must take their oral comprehensive exam before the start of the spring semester in their third year of study. As preparation for the comprehensive exam, students select three areas for study and complete the necessary coursework for those areas. They must ask three different faculty members to serve as examiners and in consultation with the faculty prepare a reading list for each area. Students are advised to constitute their orals committee by the end of their second year so that they can prepare for orals during the summer before their third year. Each student is responsible for setting an exam date and time in consultation with the faculty examiners. After doing this, student should contact the Graduate Assistant who will reserve a room and prepare the necessary paperwork. The exam itself will last two hours, and each professor will have a chance to ask a number of questions regarding their field.

In the spring semester of the third year, students enroll in the dissertation seminar in which they draft a dissertation proposal. The proposal is an overview of the dissertation question, research agenda, methodology, likely source base, relevant historiography, and a timeline for research and writing. The proposal will be graded by the faculty member teaching the dissertation seminar. During this semester, students should also assemble a dissertation committee, which typically will consist of their academic advisor, who will serve as chairand at least two other faculty members. With the permission of their advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies, students may select committee members from outside the department. The proposal must be approved by the student’s dissertation committee. The proposal and the signed proposal approval form must be submitted to the Graduate Assistant who will add it to the student’s file.

Upon admission to doctoral candidacy, students research and write their dissertation, which is an original contribution to knowledge based on extensive primary and secondary research. The completed dissertation must be approved by a committee of three readers - the faculty advisor and two other faculty members - and approved by the Director of Graduate Studies. It must also be defended at a public oral defense.

Ph.D. Placements

Chair and professor of history.

Wheaton College

Distinguished Research Professor

University of California, Los Angeles

Postdoctoral Fellow

Princeton University, Society of Fellows

Director of Undergraduate Studies

University of Notre Dame

History Teacher

Selma City Schools

Assistant Professor

Waseda University, Tokyo

Research Fellow

International Peace Institute

Honors Program, Boston College

Harvard College Writing Program

View More Placements

How to Apply

The application deadline for the Ph.D. program is January 2. The submission of GRE General Test scores is optional. To start an application, please visit the Admission page of the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences.

Discernment for Doctoral Students

An internship program through BC's Institute for the Liberal Arts supports career exploration for Ph.D. students.

History Department Stokes Hall South, 3rd Floor

617-552-3781

Using the Bibliography of British and Irish History (BBIH) as a PhD research tool – Phil Winterbottom 

Mar 8, 2024 | Bibliography of British and Irish History

In this blog, PhD student Phil Winterbottom reflects on the ways in which he has used BBIH as a tool to help him develop his historiographical knowledge and keep up to date with the latest research in his field. 

When I began my PhD research in 2020 I had not studied in an academic environment for nearly 35 years. My working life as an archivist had on occasion involved historical research using other archives and secondary sources, and in the year prior to registering as a doctoral student I had also built up a familiarity with the core literature and journals relating to my period and subject area. However, one of the first things that struck me as I started out on my research was how much I didn’t know. This applied not only to my subject knowledge, but also to published research, and in the latter case I also had no clear idea of the extent of my ignorance. As I began to prepare a literature review in my first months of study, it became clear that I needed to fill my historiographical knowledge gaps. 

I was soon pointed in the direction of BBIH, which I found was an ideal tool to locate journal articles, book chapters, monographs and, to a lesser extent, theses that could be relevant to my research. In common with many research students, my thesis subject, personal banking in London in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, straddles a range of historiographical strands, including various aspects of economic and social history. In order to discover what I was missing it was really helpful to be able to conduct a range of searches in BBIH using the extensive hierarchical subject categories in conjunction with date and place parameters. Having used BBIH to help with my literature review, I soon realised that it would be the easiest way to find and access material as I continued my PhD journey. 

Often when looking at search results in BBIH it is obvious just from the title of a book or article that the item is going to be worth consulting (in which case I select the item in the search hitlist to come back to later in my BBIH session). Similarly, there are also usually items in a hitlist which it is clear are unlikely to be of interest. However, there are always a number, often a lot, of publications whose relevance is less clear cut. For this material I often look first at any reviews listed at the bottom of the BBIH entry, and also check Google Scholar for any additional reviews, as these often provide enough information for me to decide whether to investigate further. In many instances, particularly for monographs, following the Google Books link in BBIH is also helpful, especially if there is a preview or free ebook. I also check if there is a DOI link within the BBIH entry which might take me to an abstract or full text of an item. Once I have in the BBIH hitlist a list of selected items which I know I would like to look at, I first of all export the citations for the selected items direct to Zotero . I then work through the hitlist, for each item following the BBIH link to my academic library (in my case Senate House Library in London) to see if I can view the item online through my library membership—I can then go straight to the item. For older material I check if there is a digital version available via the Internet Archive. If there is no online version, I check via BBIH whether the item exists and is currently available to read or borrow in hard copy at Senate House Library. If I cannot access the item there, I use the JISC Library Hub Discover link to locate copies of the item elsewhere. I sometimes then export a group of selected entries from BBIH to create reading lists in Word. 

I also use BBIH to help me assess material I am reading, for example by looking for other published work by the same author, or using the subject index terms highlighted in the BBIH entry to find related works. I often also take a look at Google Scholar to see where, and to what extent, the work has been cited. I have also used BBIH to find material to help me construct the personal case studies which appear in my thesis, and the links within some BBIH entries to articles in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography or British History Online , and material at The National Archives , have on occasion been useful too. 

Over the course of my research I have set up BBIH email alerts , which I use alongside journal e-alerts, to keep track of newly-published material. The BBIH emails not only tell me that new material relating to my saved searches has been added to the database—they also enable me to go straight to hitlists of the new items. These alerts have proved useful both for identifying monographs which have not yet been reviewed, and of which I may have been unaware, and for revealing articles which have appeared in journals with which I am not familiar and for which I do not receive regular content updates. 

I am sure there is more that I could do with BBIH, but I have found it valuable not only for quickly identifying relevant literature, but also as a one-stop portal for accessing digital and printed versions of the material. 

Banner image: Spine of F. G. Hilton Price, A Handbook of London Bankers  (London: Chatto and Windus, 1876), which is still a useful resource for the early history of banking in London. 

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MA Irish History

Graduate taught (level 9 nfq, credits 90).

Established in 1854, UCD is steeped in Irish history and is an institution that has played a key role in the development of modern Ireland. UCD’s dynamic School of History, the largest in the country, has long played a vital role in leading national debate and research on the evolution of Irish society, culture and  politics. This MA enables students to work closely with some of the country’s most renowned historians of Ireland to continue the tradition of providing context, insight and originality in the research of Irish history and its communication to a wide audience. Our teaching is informed by a global perspective, situating events in Ireland in an international and comparative context.

UCD faculty have diverse research interests and our module choices reflect this, ranging from the medieval to the modern period and thematically across histories of religion, the environment, medicine and deviancy, gender and war, and twentieth century Irish society and politics.  

Modules are taught through seminars. You will develop expertise in presenting, analytical thinking, effective communication, and writing with clarity and precision. Every student is free to choose their own degree pathway and the modules on offer include courses in medieval, early-modern and modern history.

The dissertation, at the core of the MA, allows you to engage your own research-based interests. You will be guided by historians with an excellent track record in the teaching and research.

The MA in Irish History is suitable for those with some background in history or a related humanities subject who are interested in exploring Ireland’s past. Applicants who have not studied Irish history before are very welcome to apply.  We have both part-time and full-time pathways. 

Students will have an opportunity to focus on their own particular areas of interest and be guided by historians with an excellent track record in the teaching and research.

Careers & Employability

You will be equipped to excel in numerous careers that value critical thinking, writing and time- and project-management skills. Many of our alumni work in international business, foreign affairs and Dublin's vibrant tech sector, where a background in the humanities is particularly valued. Others graduates work in senior positions across a diverse range of industries including education, the media, NGOs and the Arts. Some graduates proceed to PhD studies at Irish, British, and European institutions.

Curricular information is subject to change

Who should apply?

Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. Yes

Part Time option suitable for:

This course is open to graduates from history, social sciences or cognate disciplines. 

Course Description

The MA in Irish History is a 90-credit programme. Students take 60 credits of taught modules, including core modules in historiography, archives, and dissemination, and three options. The modules offered encapsulate the origins, development and contemporary state of research into Irish history. You can follow your own research interests (for example, selecting to focus primarily on the Early Modern period or the twentieth century) and in your choice of topic for their dissertations. The 30 remaining credits are allocated to the 15,00 word dissertation. Through the dissertation and in house conference, students will have an opportunity to develop and present a significant project based on original research. There is a strong emphasis on the use of primary source material, including material from the collections of the UCD archives.

Core modules include:

• Modern Irish Historiography
• Delving into the Archives
• Disseminating History
• Dissertation.

You will also have the opportunity to select three option modules. Options may include:

• Pop culture in Modern Ireland
• De Valera’s Ireland
• Landscape and Environment in Ireland, 1500-1800
• Introduction to Public History
• The Body in Modern Warfare
• Anthropocence Histories
• One World, One Health

What modules can I take?

View All Modules Here

Fees, Funding and Scholarships

The  Colonel Michael Hefferon Memorial Scholarship  is open to EU and non-EU applicants. Acceptance and registration into the MA in Irish History is a pre-condition for holders of the Scholarship. Please see UCD School of History website for more information and to apply. Thanks. 

Students may also consider:

The Margaret MacCurtain Scholarship in Women's History (see  UCD School of History website )

Tuition fee information is available on the  UCD Fees website . Please note that UCD offers a number of graduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD graduate degree programme. For further information please see  International Scholarships .

Entry Requirements

Minimum of 2.1 or international equivalent in BA History or a cognate subject. Minimum of 2.1 in BA History or a cognate subject.

Testimonial

Roisin Guyett-Nicholson MA 2018 Writing a research dissertation is at the core of this course, and enabled me to undertake a significant amount of individual research. The support of my supervisor and the other academics in the School was invaluable, while the small group seminars developed my research skills and knowledge of Irish History, giving me a strong foundation from which I could base my dissertation. The conference module, organised by students was a particular highlight, offering an opportunity for students to present their original research. The research, writing, editing and presentation skills were all key for this MA course, and are ones I use on a regular basis in my current role in Communications and Marketing at UCD.  

Facilities and Resources

UCD is an ideal base for the research of Irish history. The School of History offers a thriving research culture with a range of seminars, in-house conferences and other events taking place regularly. The Archives at UCD house an invaluable collection and are a remarkable on-site resource for those interested in all aspects of modern Irish history. UCD is also very conveniently located for the use of Dublin city centre research and cultural institutions, including the National Library of Ireland and the National Archives, where an extensive range of Irish manuscripts and papers are housed.

How to apply?

The following entry routes are available:

* Courses will remain open until such time as all places have been filled, therefore early application is advised

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History is a vibrant and research-active department with a wide variety of areas of expertise as listed below. Research degrees at MA level are available. Students may register for a Structured PhD in History. As part of the doctoral training available on the Structured PhD programme, students avail themselves of a range of interdisciplinary taught modules

Programmes Available

MLitt (History), full-time MLitt (History), part-time

Applications are made online via the University of Galway  Postgraduate Applications System . 

Learning Outcomes

Entry requirements.

Admission to a research degree is at the discretion of the potential supervisor and the head of department, and is based on a proposal from the applicant following discussion with the member of staff whose academic area of interest is most appropriate. Candidates should have obtained an honours degree in History (Second Class Honours, Grade 1 [or equivalent international qualification] minimum).

Who’s Suited to This Course

Current research projects.

Discipline of History website

Current funded research opportunity

Work placement, related student organisations, career opportunities, find a supervisor / phd project.

If you are still looking for a potential supervisor or PhD project or would like to identify the key research interests of our academic staff and researchers, you can use our online portal to help in that search

Current Projects

Dr. Gearóid Barry: modern and contemporary France, cultural and political history of the first world war in Europe, European pacifism between the world wars, history of religion in modern and contemporary Europe (including popular religiosity), French Catholicism since the Revolution, the origins of Christian Democracy in Europe, Franco-Irish links in the 20th century.

Dr. Sarah-Anne Buckley: Nineteenth and twentieth-century Irish and British social, political, and social policy history; women and gender; institutional histories; welfare history and the history of childhood and the family in Ireland.

Dr. Caitríona Clear: history of women; social history of Ireland and Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Dr. John Cunningham: modern Ireland; labour history; local history; urban history; dynamics of social protest.

Dr. Enrico Dal Lago: U.S. social and political history, especially the 19th century; American slavery in comparative perspective; native North Americans, especially the Plains Tribes.

Prof. Steven Ellis: British and Irish history, 15th to 17th century; historiography; early modern Europe.

Dr. Alison Forrestal: early Modern Europe, particularly 17thcentury France; history of religion, particularly early modern Catholic culture and society; 17th-century Ireland.

Dr. Mary Harris: Ireland in the 19th and 20th centuries with particular reference to Church-State relations and Northern Ireland; Colonial Spanish America.

Dr. Róisín Healy: " Modern German and Polish history; Irish contacts with continental Europe;  religion and church-state relations in central Europe;  history of suicide"

Dr. Kimberly LoPrete: social, political, and cultural history of Medieval Europe, in particular the 11th-12th centuries and France; women in medieval society, notably aristocratic women; gender and lordship; the first crusade and the history of crusading; Europeans encounters with non-Europeans and travels in Asia; medieval historical writing and uses of the pastin the middle ages; manuscript studies, including palaeography, codicology,and the transmission of texts.

Dr. Niall Ó Ciosáin: social history of Ireland and Europe, 17th–19th century

Prof. Dáibhí Ó Cróinín: Ireland, Britain, and Europe during the early middle ages; computistics; medieval Latin palaeography; Irish traditional music and song.

Dr. Kevin O Sullivan:  The history of decolonisation; social and political legacies of imperialism; humanitarianism; non-governmental organisations; globalisation; international

Researcher Profiles

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Fees: Non EU

Extra information.

EU Part time: Year 1 €4,250 p.a. (€4,390 including levy) 2024/25

All students, irrespective of funding, must pay the student levy of  €140.

Ms Helena Condon   T +353 91 492 537 E  helena.condon@ universityofgalway.ie www.nuigalway.ie/history/pgradsresearch.html

Postgraduate Prospectus 2024 PDF (3.3MB)

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Deaths of 48 people in 1981 fire at Dublin's Stardust nightclub were unlawful killing, jury rules

The jury also found that the fire, the worst in Ireland's history, started as a result of an electrical fault in an airing cupboard. More than 200 people were injured in the disaster.

Thursday 18 April 2024 18:35, UK

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The deaths of 48 people in the worst fire in the history of Ireland have been ruled by a jury as unlawful killing.

A jury at Dublin District Coroner's Court delivered majority verdicts on the victims of the 1981 Stardust nightclub fire in the city on Thursday.

The venue in Artane, north Dublin, was packed with around 800 people when the fire broke out in the early hours of Valentine's Day.

More than 200 people were injured in the disaster.

Fresh inquests into the deaths, the longest held in Ireland, were ordered by the country's attorney general in 2019, but only began last year.

A jury, made up of seven women and five men, delivered the verdict on Thursday after 11 days of deliberation.

Some family members of the victims jumped to their feet and clapped at the verdict, while others were moved to tears as they remained in their seat.

More on Dublin

Bodies fused together in death: How Stardust was seared into Irish consciousness

President of Ireland Michael D Higgins 'in excellent spirits' but will remain in hospital overnight after tests

Dublin: Man dies after explosion in city centre hostel

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Others embraced each other as soon as the foreman said "unlawful killing".

The jury also established that the fire started as a result of an electrical fault in an airing cupboard.

In the ballroom, foam in the seating, the height of the ceiling in an alcove, and carpet tiles on the wall all contributed to the spread of the fire, the jurors found.

Several factors, including lack of visibility because of black smoke, the toxicity of the smoke and/or gases, the heat of the fire, the speed of the fire's spread, lack of staff preparedness and the failure of the emergency lighting system were all factors that impeded the victims in escaping the building.

The jury was unable to determine when the blaze started but said it was first seen outside the building between 1.20am and 1.40am.

It said the fire was first seen inside the ballroom between 1.35am and 1.40am.

After the verdict, Maurice Frazer, whose sister Thelma died in the fire, spoke about "the unbearable pain of losing parents, siblings and cherished friends even decades later".

"For those decades, our hearts and minds have been shattered, and the mental toll has been overwhelming and exhausting, persisting day after weary day.

"In 2009, the finding of the Stardust Tribunal 1981 - probable arson - was finally removed. That's 28 years of our loved ones' names smeared with the label of arson - one of the most despicable crimes imaginable."

The family member demanded "a meaningful public apology from the Irish state".

"While today brings a glimmer of relief, we now know deep down that it can never erase the void left by our loved ones' absence.

"Yet amidst the sorrow, there's a flicker of hope. Today marks a turning point, a step towards closure. Healing towards a future where justice prevails."

Antoinette Keegan, whose two sisters Mary and Martina died in the blaze, said it was an "overwhelming day".

Ms Keegan, who survived the fire, said: "This day is for the 48."

Bridget McDermott, who lost three children in the fire - William, Marcella and George, was in court for the verdicts.

Her daughter Louise paid tribute to her mother afterwards.

"Our mother is here, and we don't know how she's still with us, but she is and she was here today to get the unlawful killing (verdicts) of her three children," she said.

"It was a very emotional day for all the families here, all of us. For 43 years we had to fight and we shouldn't have had to have done. None of us. We shouldn't be here now, this should have been sorted and done long ago."

The timeline of the Stardust families 40-year campaign

13/14 February 1981 - Hundreds of revellers try to escape through fire exits when a blaze breaks out the Stardust nightclub in Artane, north Dublin, in the early hours of Valentine's Day. Several of the exits are chained closed, while some windows are blocked by iron bars. Many people are crushed in the rush to get out, others die from inhaling poisonous gases.

November 1981 - After 122 days, a tribunal of inquiry under Mr Justice Ronan Keane concludes the fire was probably caused by arson rather than accident, a finding contested by relatives ever since. Stardust manager Eamon Butterly is allowed to claim IR£581,000 compensation for "malicious damage" from the state.

May 1985 - John Keegan, whose daughters Martina and Mary died in the blaze, sets up the Stardust Victims' Committee.

December 1986 - Mr Keegan dies the same day as he loses a Supreme Court case for personal injuries following the deaths of his daughters. The group campaigns for a new inquiry for the next two decades.

November 2003 - An independent report, written by a researcher for the Stardust families, is given to the Department of Justice. They maintain it contains expert evidence which disputes the original tribunal's findings.

February 2006 - More than 200 relatives and friends of the Stardust victims begin a 13-week protest at the site of the fire over plans by Mr Butterly to open a pub at the site on the 25th anniversary.

December 2006 - Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern announces an external independent examination of all evidence relating to the fire. The bodies of five victims, buried in a communal plot in St Fintan's Cemetery in Sutton, would be exhumed for identification.

March 2008 - Stardust families withdraw support from a government-organised review of new information, claiming chair John Gallagher SC has represented police at inquests into the deaths. Barrister Paul Coffey takes over the review.

January 2009 - Families express relief as the report rules there is no evidence to prove the cause of the fire was arson.

February 2014 - Irish police launch a criminal investigation into concerns over evidence from a number of witnesses at the 1981 tribunal.

January 2016 - Ireland's director of public prosecutions will not order prosecutions of witnesses who allegedly committed perjury during the 1981 tribunal.

November 2017 - A judge rules that no new independent inquiry is warranted and criticises the evidence presented to him. The families criticise the report as "rude and aggressive".

September 2019 - The then attorney general of Ireland directs that fresh inquests should be held into the deaths after a 37-page submission is filed on behalf of Antoinette Keegan and relatives of 42 of the 48 people who died in the fire. The families say they have discovered new evidence, through a Freedom of Information request as well as previously unheard witness testimony.

November 2022 - Former Stardust manager Eamon Butterly fails in a High Court challenge that the inquest could not make findings of unlawful killing.

April 2023 - The Stardust fire inquests commence.

April 2024 - A verdict of unlawful killing is returned by the jury in the Stardust fire inquests for all 48 people who died in the disaster.

Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane paid tribute to the "persistence and commitment" of the families who had campaigned for fresh inquests.

"To the families, I acknowledge the deaths of these 48 young people is a source of ongoing grief to those who loved them and it remains the defining loss of their lives," she said.

"The fact that these inquests have been held at all is in no small part due to the persistence and commitment of families over the years.

"And, finally, we remember those 48 young people who lost their lives on that fateful night. It is their lives that we've sought to vindicate by way of these inquests."

A tribunal of inquiry set up soon after the fire found arson was the "probable" cause, something the families rejected as it appeared to blame those attending the disco and absolved the club's owners.

This is despite evidence that exits in the ballroom were locked, chained or otherwise obstructed, which the jury confirmed this afternoon.

The original inquests in 1982 lasted five days and were confined to recording the medical cause of the deaths and did not examine the circumstances of the fire.

They were themselves awarded IR£581,000 compensation by a Dublin court in 1983.

But victims' relatives kept pushing for a new investigation and, eventually, new inquests were announced, only for legal arguments and wrangling over juror pay to delay proceedings by a further four years.

Ireland's prime minister, Simon Harris, described the Stardust tragedy as "one of the darkest moments in our history".

"A heartbreaking tragedy because of the lives that were lost, the families that were changed forever, and the long, drawn-out struggle for justice that followed," he said.

Mr Harris remembered those who lost their lives and paid tribute to their families for pursuing truth and justice "to ensure that such a disaster never happens again".

He said the Irish government will consider the verdict in full, and the recommendations of the jury.

"48 young people never came home that night, but as Taoiseach I want to say this to their families; You never gave up on justice for them, you never let Ireland forget about them. They were never alone, and our country owes you a great debt for that."

Irish president Michael D Higgins said: "Today's findings have at last brought a conclusion as to the circumstances of their death: to the cause of the fire, to the factors which contributed to its spread, to the factors which impeded those who died in their ability to escape and to access and exit through emergency exits, by its ultimate verdict of unlawful killing," he said.

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"Findings which again have come about thanks to the tireless campaigning and work of those who cared most for the loss and appropriate memory of each of those who died.

"I am very conscious that today will be a day of the deepest emotions for the loved ones of those who died. A day of vindication and of honour, but also a day of the deepest sadness and regret. I think in particular of those whose passing means this conclusion comes too late for them.

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"As president of Ireland, I congratulate each of the families for the outcome of their steadfastness in pursuit of justice in honouring the memory of those they cared most for on this most important of days."

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You are here Postgraduate > Taught M.Phil Programmes > M.Phil in Modern Irish History

M.Phil in Modern Irish History

Course Co-ordinator: Dr Carole Holohan

M.Phil. in Modern Irish History Course Handbook - Please note that module choices change from year to year

M.Phil in Modern Irish History Brochure

Purpose and organisation of the M.Phil in Modern Irish History

The M.Phil in Modern Irish History programme is designed to provide students with knowledge of chosen areas of modern Irish history, and to develop generic research and organisational skills.

Since the programme's inception in 2005/6, our graduates have followed diverse career paths in the worlds of education, of business, of scholarship, of public service, and of the law.

The programme is open to well-qualified students of History and cognate disciplines. Prior in-depth knowledge of Irish history is not required. While the primary medium of instruction and inquiry is English, individual students are encouraged to draw on their own knowledge of Irish and of other languages to explore relevant sources and texts.

In addition to courses which develop students' contextual knowledge of Irish history and their critical, organisational, research and presentational skills, students take a special subject module in each semester. The special subject modules enable students to engage intensively with primary sources as well as with contemporary historical debates on the issues and processes under investigation.

In the course of their studies, M.Phil in Modern Irish History students will research not only in Trinity College Library, but in various archives across Ireland locating and exploring relevant primary sources which they will use both in essays, and in their dissertations. Depending on their research topics they may also visit foreign archives, and may make judicious use of digitally-provided research materials accessible via the Web. M.Phil in Modern Irish History students also have the option of undergoing an archival placement, where they can gain practical experience in organising and caring for collections of historical materials in a professional environment.

Following completion of their course work, M.Phil in Modern Irish History students undertake a research dissertation on a Modern Irish History topic of their choice, during which they receive individual guidance and feedback from appropriate members of the Department of History.

The M.Phil in Modern Irish History and the wider academic environment

Students taking the M.Phil in Modern Irish History in Trinity College join a vibrant academic community, interacting with people on other Masters programmes, with PhD students, and with early career researchers as well as established faculty in the School of Histories and Humanities. M.Phil in Modern Irish History students attend the four departmental History seminars, where new research by Irish and international historians is presented, analysed and debated. The Research Seminar in Contemporary Irish History also attracts former activists, retired officials, and politicians with direct experience of issues and themes under discussion. It thus enables the interchange of ideas and experience with postgraduate students, often facilitating individuals' research activities.

M.Phil in Modern Irish History students may also participate and assist in the presentation of various academic conferences and other events which are run each year by the department's Research Centres.

April 2013: M.Phil module H7123 Exploring the Irish Civil War 1922-2013 (this group includes students from Britain, Denmark, the United States, China, and Canada)

Who studies for the M.Phil in Modern Irish History?

Since its inception in 2005, the M.Phil in Modern Irish History has attracted students from across the world. This mix of students ensures that M.Phil students explore Irish history from a wide variety of perspectives and experience. About a quarter of M.Phil graduates have gone on to doctoral studies and research careers in Ireland, Europe or North America, others have embarked on further professional training as lawyers, teachers, librarians, counsellors and archivists, some are now public servants, and some work in business and service industries.

Click here to hear from some of our recent graduates

Awards and Scholarships

Government of Ireland International Education Scholarships  are awarded to high calibre students from non-EEA countries to study in Ireland for a period of one year. They provide a €10,000 stipend towards living costs and Trinity provides a full fee-waiver to recipients for one year. Further information is available here  https://www.tcd.ie/study/international/scholarships/postgraduate/goi/

All applicants will automatically be considered for the following internal awards:

• The Constantia Maxwell Faculty Studentship, with a value of 3000 euro, is usually offered to a student in any of the School's MPhil programmes.
• The School of Histories and Humanities also offers one bursary of 1000 euro, to be deducted from the course fees, for each of its MPhil programmes.

Awards will be made on academic merit. All completed applications with an unconditional offer by the deadline of June 30th will be considered for the internal awards.

Applications

Applications should be made online through www.tcd.ie/courses/postgraduate/faculty . Up to date information on fees is provided on the Academic Registry website .

The Book of Clarence review: A wannabe messiah seeks disciples in an inventive parallel history to the New Testament

Director jeymes samuel re-creates and repositions the tropes and spectacle of hollywood’s sword-and-sandals epics.

The Book of Clarence's depiction of numerous cults carousing and competing around Palestine is historically spot on

In Monty Python’s The Life of Brian, the reluctant hero of the title is mistaken for the Messiah. Jeymes Samuel’s inventive parallel history to the New Testament flips that narrative.

There is something of Garth Davis’s underrated Mary Magdalene in The Book of Clarence’s historically spot-on depiction of numerous cults carousing and competing around Palestine. Inspired by his twin brother and committed disciple Thomas, Clarence – played by the double-jobbing Keith Stanfield – is a chancer with gambling debts who latches on to the upcoming Christian cult. Posing as Jesus’s 13th apostle, he is quickly denounced as a fraud by a savvy John the Baptist (David Oyelowo). Undeterred, he refashions himself as a miracle-working magician. Then James McAvoy’s pitiless Pontius Pilate intercepts him.

Move over, Ben Hur. A starry ensemble reinterprets such biblical characters as the Virgin Mary (Alfre Woodard), Barrabas (Omar Sy) and Judas (Micheal Ward). Tom Vaughan-Lawlor provides Roman muscle. When Jesus bestows the power to multiply coins upon Benjamin, a filthy street beggar, it turns out that Benedict Cumberbatch is under the muck.

The A-list cast reflects the scale of the project’s ambitions. From the thrilling opening chariot race, which Clarence loses to Teyana Taylor’s Mary Magdalene, The Book of Clarence re-creates and repositions the tropes and spectacle of Hollywood’s classic sword-and-sandals pictures.

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The film’s tone can err on the wrong side of wackiness: an opium session that leaves the participants floating is as strange as it is visually impressive.

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Recalling the new black surrealism of Joe Talbot’s The Last Black Man in San Francisco and Boots Riley’s Sorry to Bother You , Samuel makes merry with historical anachronisms and a soundtrack featuring Lil Wayne, Doja Cat and Jay-Z (who’s one of the film’s producers).

There’s no trace of blasphemy underpinning these innovations: the film makes judicious use of Jesus, if that’s not an odd way to put it. The script carefully draws details from the gospels as it journeys towards an ending that is miraculous in every sense.

The Book of Clarence opens in cinemas on Friday, April 19th

Tara Brady, a contributor to The Irish Times, is a writer and film critic

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