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. 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.
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.
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.
