Ciara Meehan

Ciara Meehan is a lecturer in twentieth century history.  Her research interests include state building, the transformation of Irish politics and society, and the everyday lives of women.  Her first book, The Cosgrave Party, was published by the Royal Irish Academy in 2010. A study of Cumann na nGaedheal, it also explored the creation of the new Irish state during the first decade of independence. Her latest monograph, A Just Society for Ireland? 1964-87, was published by Palgrave Macmillan in October 2013. It explores Irish politics and society between 1964 and 1987 through the lens of Declan Costello’s Just Society and Garret FitzGerald’s Constitutional Crusade. 

Along with Dr Jennifer Evans, she is the co-organiser of the Perceptions of Pregnancy: From the Medieval to the Modern conference, which will be held at the University of Hertfordshire from 16-18 July 2014.

• State building
• History of Cumann na nGaedheal / Fine Gael
• Election history
• Women's history
• Abortion politics
• Everyday lives

I am currently working on a number of projects. The main one is a history of Dublin during the period 1912-1922, to be published by Four Courts Press as part of a new series to coincide with the decade of commemoration in Ireland. Leaving aside the big battles at the GPO, etc, the book will offer a history of Dublin ‘from below’, providing an insight into what life was like as key events in the history of the state unfolded.

Additionally, I am also interested in how women were portrayed in and engaged with print media in twentieth century Ireland, looking particularly at women’s magazines. My long-term aim is to develop this into a book-length project.

With Dr Mel Farrell (NUI Maynooth) and Dr Jason Knirck (Central Washington University), I am editing an anthology of 1920s Ireland, which will by published by Irish Academic Press in 2015.  

Further details on my research can be found on my personal blog.

Level 4: The First World War (co-taught with Anthony Shaw)

Level 4: Britons: Who Do We Think They Are? (co-taught with Jennifer Evans)

Level 5: Writing the Past (co-taught with Sarah Lloyd and Jennifer Evans)

Level 6: Themes in 20th Century People's History