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Faculties & Departments
Department of English
News & Announcements
Department of English Seminar Series, Spring 2010
April 16
Ruth Barton (TCD): ‘What I don't know about Hedy Lamarr - the hazards of biography writing’
4pm, John Hume Boardroom, John Hume Building,
North Campus, NUI Maynooth
All welcome!
April 23
Roundtable discussion: ‘The Future of Literary Studies’
4pm, John Hume Boardroom, John Hume Building,
North Campus, NUI Maynooth
All welcome!
April 30
Sinead Kennedy (NUIM): ‘ “… and all the pieces matter”: Metanarrative and political economy in The Wire’
4pm, John Hume Boardroom, John Hume Building,
North Campus, NUI Maynooth
All welcome!
Recent Publications:
A History of the Media in Ireland
From the first book printed in Ireland in the sixteenth century, to the globalised digital media culture of today, Christopher Morash traces the history of forms of communication in Ireland over the past four centuries: the vigorous newspaper and pamphlet culture of the eighteenth century, the spread of popular literacy in the nineteenth century, and the impact of the telegraph, telephone, phonograph, cinema and radio, which arrived in Ireland just as the Irish Free State came into being. Morash picks out specific events for detailed analysis, such as the first radio broadcast, during the 1916 Rising, or the Live Aid concert in 1985. Outlining new ways to think about Irish culture, this important book breaks new ground within Irish studies. Its accessible narrative explains how Ireland developed into the modern, globally interconnected economy of today. This is an essential and hugely informative read for anyone interested in Irish cultural history. Click here to purchase this publication.
Today with Pat Kenny, RTE Radio 1 - Monday 25 January 2010
Professor Chris Morash discusses his most recent publication, A History of the Media in Ireland, with Pat Kenny.
Ministerial appointment for Prof Chris Morash, Head of School of English, Media and Theatre Studies
The Minister for Energy, Communications and Natural Resources, Eamon Ryan, T.D., has today announced the appointment of Professor Chris Morash as Chair of the Compliance Committee of the newly created Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, the new single broadcasting content regulator.
The Compliance Committee will require all broadcasters, public or private, to comply with their licence conditions, broadcasting codes and rules. New codes in relation to children's advertising, among others, will be introduced under the Broadcasting Act. The Compliance Committee will also carry out the work previously undertaken by the BCC (Broadcasting Complaints Committee).
Appointed alongside Prof Morash on the Compliance Committee are John Reynolds, music promoter, Aidine O'Reilly, MD of Real Event Solutions and communications consultant Edel Hackett.
Commenting on the appointments, Minister Ryan said, 'Broadcasting in Ireland is entering a period of change. New technologies are changing viewing and listening patterns but the old rule remains “ the quality of the content defines success. These appointees will have the requisite skills to help Irish broadcasting adapt and thrive. I hope and trust they will be strict, strong and visionary in their exciting new roles'
Prof. Morash is the founder of NUI Maynooth's Centre for Media Studies, and is Head of the University's School of English, Media and Theatre Studies. 'This is not only a great honour', said Prof. Morash; 'it is also a great challenge at a time when the Irish media are facing new challenges in fulfilling their remit to deliver inclusive and pluralistic broadcasting.'
The Broadcasting Authority, which came into being with the passing earlier this year of the 2009 Broadcasting Act, consolidates all existing broadcasting legislation going back to 1926, replacing the BCI, the BCC and redefining the role of the RTE authority. The new Authority will be chaired by Bob Collins, former Director General of RTE.
'The Act recognises the role of the media in promoting the democratic values enshrined in the Constitution,' notes Prof. Morash, 'particularly those relating to liberty of expression. I look forward to working with the rest of the Authority in upholding those values.'
European Science Foundation Workshop
The Department of English is pleased to announce that Dr. Íde Corley and Dr. Conrad Bruström have made a successful application to the European Science Foundation for an exploratory workshop entitled "Multiple Modernities of Same-Sex Sexuality in Nigeria" at NUI, Maynooth in 2010. ESF exploratory workshops aim to open new directions in research to explore non-traditional fields with a potential impact on developments in the sciences and humanities. The workshop to be held at NUIM in 2010 will seek to connect queer literary critical approaches to temporality and history with empirical studies and political practice in order to consider the legacy of European colonialism for African sexual cultures. More details will follow.
Retirement of Mr Séamus MacGabhann
On October 1, faculty and staff from around the University joined together to honour the achievement, and to mark the retirement from the English Department of Seamus Mac Gabhann. Seamus has been a member of the English Department for almost thirty years, during which he has been not only a scholar, but also an inspirational teacher to more than one generation of students. His friends in the English Department wish him the very best in his retirement.
Prizes awarded by the Department of English
The Brian Cosgrove Prize, a cash prize of €200 awarded to the student achieving first place in First Year English. The 08/09 prize winner is Catherine O'Sullivan.
The Barbara Hayley Prize, a cash prize of €200 awarded to the student achieving first place in Second Year Engliah. The 08/09 prize winner is Siobhán Murphy.
The Peter Connolly Prize, a cash prize of €200 awarded to the student achieving first place in Third Year English. The 08/09 prize winner is Brian Doyle.
The Edward Said Prize, a cash prize of €200 awarded to the student achieving the highest Mini-dissertation mark in the MA in English. The 08/09 prize winner is Marie Therese Ryan.
Prizes were awarded in a prizegiving ceremony held by the University in November 2009.