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Geography, Archaeology & Irish Studies

Dr. Karen Molloy

B.A. (Mod) Ph.D., H.Dip.Ed.

Contact Details

SENIOR TECHNICAL OFFICER
School of Geog. & Archaeology
Room G001
12 Distillery Road
Galway
T: Ext. 3255
E: karen.molloy@nuigalway.ie
 
researcher
 

Biography

A graduate of Trinity College, Dublin (Department of Botany), my PhD research (completed 1989) focused on Holocene environmental change with particular reference to human impact in western Connemara. Postdoctoral research experience include periods of more than a year at the University of New South Wales, Sydney (1989), and the Free University of Amsterdam (1990) where I researched European impact on eastern Australian environments and Irish Late-glacial environments (in the context of a joint NUIG/Free University of Amsterdam project led by M. O'Connell and funded by the EU), respectively.
Since 1992 I have been involved in palaeoecological research undertaken at the Palaeoenvironmental Research Unit. The research undertaken has focussed on long-term climate change and the role people have played in shaping the Irish landscape from the Neolithic period through to present time in the west of Ireland. To this end both lake and bog cores have been taken sampled and analysed for fossil pollen, macrofossils and non-pollen palynomorphs (fungal remains etc. Pollen identification and counting has been done to highest possible standards and the results have been published in national and international journals (both Science and Archaeology; see PRU web page). Many investigations have been undertaken at important archaeological sites eg Céide Fields, Co. Mayo; Chancellorsland, Co. Tipperary and Mooghaun Hillfort, Co Clare. 
In 2011 I joined the School of Geography and Archaeology. I lecture to undergraduate Geography and Archaeology students and contribute to the MA in Landscape Change.

Research Interests

<I have been involved in palaeoecological research at NUI Galway since the mid 1980s. My main focus of research is using palaeoenvironmental methods, primarily pollen analysis, to reconstruct changes in the Irish landscape since the Late-glacial period to recent times.  I have been responsible for detailed pollen analytical investigations at several high profile sites such as Céide Fields, N. Mayo, and Mooghaun, SE Co. Clare, as well as being the main pollen analyst for the EU-funded project TIMECHS which focussed on Inis Oírr, Aran Islands. Other research projects include Late-glacial and Holocene climate change in Atlantic Europe based on multiproxy evidence from calcareous lake sediments (funded by the HEA, PRTLI3 programme) and Reconstruction of post-glacial change at Ballinphuill, east Galway (M6 motorway) and Caheraphuca, Crusheen, Co. Clare (N18 motorway) (funded by the NRA/Galway County Council). I am a member of the Environmental Change Research Cluster, Discipline of Geography. 

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2018) 'A mid to late Holocene chironomid-inferred temperature record from northwest Ireland'
Taylor, KJ,McGinley, S,Potito, AP,Molloy, K,Beilman, DW (2018) 'A mid to late Holocene chironomid-inferred temperature record from northwest Ireland'. Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology, 505 :274-286 [DOI] [Details]
(2004) 'Tephrostratigraphy of An Loch Mor, Inis Oirr, western Ireland: implications for Holocene tephrochronology in the northeastern Atlantic region'
Chambers, FM,Daniell, JRG,Hunt, JB,Molloy, K,O'Connell, M (2004) 'Tephrostratigraphy of An Loch Mor, Inis Oirr, western Ireland: implications for Holocene tephrochronology in the northeastern Atlantic region'. Holocene, 14 :703-720 [DOI] [Details]
(2008) 'Environment and Ritual in a Late Iron Age Context: and example from Raffin Fort, Co Meath, Ireland, Charcoals from the Past: Cultural and Palaeoenvironmental Implications Cavallino-Lecce (Italy), June 28th - July 1st 2004, BAR (Int Ser) 1807'
Dillon, M., Newman, C., O'Connell, M., Molloy, K. (2008) 'Environment and Ritual in a Late Iron Age Context: and example from Raffin Fort, Co Meath, Ireland, Charcoals from the Past: Cultural and Palaeoenvironmental Implications Cavallino-Lecce (Italy), June 28th - July 1st 2004, BAR (Int Ser) 1807'. Proceedings Of The Third International Meeting Of Anthracology, :75-92 [Details]
(2015) 'Lough Lugh, Uisneach: From natural lake to archaeological monument?'
McGinley, S., A.P. Potito, K. Molloy, R. Schot, I. Stuijts and D.W. Beilman (2015) 'Lough Lugh, Uisneach: From natural lake to archaeological monument?'. Journal Of Irish Archaeology, 24 :115-130 [Details]
(2017) 'Mid-Late Holocene Vegetational History and Land-use Dynamics in County Monaghan, Northeastern Ireland–the Palynological Record of Lough Muckno'
Carlos Chique, Karen Molloy, and Aaron P. Potito (2017) 'Mid-Late Holocene Vegetational History and Land-use Dynamics in County Monaghan, Northeastern Ireland–the Palynological Record of Lough Muckno'. Journal Of The North Atlantic, 32 :1-24 [Details]
(2017) 'Mid- and late-Holocene environmental change in western Ireland: New evidence from coastal peats and fossil timbers with particular reference to relative sea-level change'
Michael O'Connell and Karen Molloy (2017) 'Mid- and late-Holocene environmental change in western Ireland: New evidence from coastal peats and fossil timbers with particular reference to relative sea-level change'. The Holocene, 27 (12):1825-1845 [Details]
(2018) 'Tracking recent human impacts on a nutrient sensitive Irish lake: integrating landscape to water linkages'
Chique, C,Potito, AP,Molloy, K,Cornett, J (2018) 'Tracking recent human impacts on a nutrient sensitive Irish lake: integrating landscape to water linkages'. Hydrobiologia, 807 :207-231 [DOI] [Details]
(2008) 'Environment and ritual in a late Iron Age context: an example from Raffin Fort, Co. Meath, Ireland'
Dillon, M., Newman, C., Molloy, K. and O'Connell, M. (2008) 'Environment and ritual in a late Iron Age context: an example from Raffin Fort, Co. Meath, Ireland'. Charcoals from the past: cultural and palaeoenvironmental implications; BAR International Series, 1807 [Details]
(2007) 'Fresh insights into long-term environmental change on the Aran Islands based on palaeoecological investigations of lake sediments from Inis Oírr'
Molloy, K. and O'Connell, M (2007) 'Fresh insights into long-term environmental change on the Aran Islands based on palaeoecological investigations of lake sediments from Inis Oírr'. Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society, 59 :1-17 [Details]
(2007) 'Multi-proxy evidence for Holocene lake-level and salinity changes at An Loch Mór, a coastal lake on the Aran Islands, Western Ireland'
Holmes, J., Jones, R., Haas, J.N, McDermott, F., Molloy, K. and O'Connell, M. (2007) 'Multi-proxy evidence for Holocene lake-level and salinity changes at An Loch Mór, a coastal lake on the Aran Islands, Western Ireland'. Quaternary Science Reviews, 26 :2438-2462 [Details]
(2007) 'Interpretation of charcoal and pollen data relating to a late Iron Age ritual site in eastern Ireland: a holistic approach'
Newman, C,O'Connell, M,Dillon, M,Molloy, K (2007) 'Interpretation of charcoal and pollen data relating to a late Iron Age ritual site in eastern Ireland: a holistic approach'. Vegetation History And Archaeobotany, 16 :349-365 [DOI] [Details]
(2006) 'Appendix B. Palaeoenvironmental investigations at Rinnaraw cashel/byre-house site, Dunfanaghy, Co. Donegal'
Molloy, K. (2006) 'Appendix B. Palaeoenvironmental investigations at Rinnaraw cashel/byre-house site, Dunfanaghy, Co. Donegal'. Tom Fanning's excavations at Rinnaraw Cashel, Portnablagh, Co.Donegal; Proc R Ir Acad, 106 (C):67-124 [Details]
(2006) 'Holocene climatic variations and postglacial sea-level rise geochemically recorded in the sediments of the brackish karst lake An Loch Mor, western Ireland'
Schettler, G,Romer, RL,O'Connell, M,Molloy, K (2006) 'Holocene climatic variations and postglacial sea-level rise geochemically recorded in the sediments of the brackish karst lake An Loch Mor, western Ireland'. Boreas, 35 :674-693 [DOI] [Details]
(2004) 'Tephrostratigraphy of An Loch Mór, Inis Oírr, W. Ireland: implications for Holocene tephrochronology in the northeastern Atlantic region'
Chambers, F.M., Daniell, J.R.G., Hunt, J.B., Molloy, K. and O'Connell, M. (2004) 'Tephrostratigraphy of An Loch Mór, Inis Oírr, W. Ireland: implications for Holocene tephrochronology in the northeastern Atlantic region'. The Holocene, 14 :703-720 [DOI] [Details]
(2004) 'Holocene vegetation and land-use dynamics in the karstic environment of Inis Oírr, Aran Islands, western Ireland: pollen analytical evidence evaluated in the light of the archaeological record'
Molloy, K. and O'Connell, M (2004) 'Holocene vegetation and land-use dynamics in the karstic environment of Inis Oírr, Aran Islands, western Ireland: pollen analytical evidence evaluated in the light of the archaeological record'. Quaternary International, 113 :41-64 [Details]
(2001) 'Farming and woodland dynamics in Ireland during the Neolithic'
O'Connell, M. and Molloy, K. (2001) 'Farming and woodland dynamics in Ireland during the Neolithic'. Biology and Environment; Proc R Ir Acad, 101 (B):99-128 [Details]
(2001) 'Reconstructing prehistoric farming activity and human impact at a fine spatial resolution: palaeoecological investigations at Mooghaun, Co. Clare, western Ireland. In: Schauer, P. (ed.), Beiträge zur Siedlungsarchäologie und zum Landschaftswandel'
O'Connell, M., Molloy, K. and McMahon, H. (2001) 'Reconstructing prehistoric farming activity and human impact at a fine spatial resolution: palaeoecological investigations at Mooghaun, Co. Clare, western Ireland. In: Schauer, P. (ed.), Beiträge zur Siedlungsarchäologie und zum Landschaftswandel'. Regensburger Beiträge zur Prähistorischen Archäologie, 7 :161-186 [Details]
(1998) 'South Central Mayo'
Barton, K. and Molloy, K. (Eds (1998) 'South Central Mayo'. Field Guide. Irish Association for Quaternary Studies, Dublin, 22 [Details]
(1997) 'Prehistoric farming at Mooghaun - a new pollen diagram from Mooghaun Lough'
Molloy, K. (1997) 'Prehistoric farming at Mooghaun - a new pollen diagram from Mooghaun Lough'. Archaeology Ireland, 11 (3):22-26 [Details]
(1995) 'Palaeoecological investigations towards the reconstruction of environment and land-use changes during prehistory at Céide Fields, western Ireland'
Molloy, K. and O'Connell, M. (1995) 'Palaeoecological investigations towards the reconstruction of environment and land-use changes during prehistory at Céide Fields, western Ireland'. Probleme der Küstenforschung im südlichen Nordseegebiet, 23 :187-225 [Details]
(1993) 'Late Holocene human impact on two coastal environments in New South Wales, Australia: a comparison of Aboriginal and European impacts'
Dodson, J.R.., McRae, V.M., Molloy, K., Roberts, F. and Smith, J.D. (1993) 'Late Holocene human impact on two coastal environments in New South Wales, Australia: a comparison of Aboriginal and European impacts'. Vegetation History And Archaeobotany, 2 :89-100 [Details]
(1991) 'PALEOECOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS TOWARDS THE RECONSTRUCTION OF WOODLAND AND LAND-USE HISTORY AT LOUGH SHEEAUNS, CONNEMARA, WESTERN IRELAND'
MOLLOY, K,OCONNELL, M (1991) 'PALEOECOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS TOWARDS THE RECONSTRUCTION OF WOODLAND AND LAND-USE HISTORY AT LOUGH SHEEAUNS, CONNEMARA, WESTERN IRELAND'. Review Of Palaeobotany And Palynology, 67 :75-113 [Details]
(1991) 'Palaeoecological investigations towards the reconstruction of woodland and land-use history at Lough Sheeauns, Connemara, western Ireland'
Molloy, K. and O’Connell, M. (1991) 'Palaeoecological investigations towards the reconstruction of woodland and land-use history at Lough Sheeauns, Connemara, western Ireland'. Review Of Palaeobotany And Palynology, 67 :75-113 [Details]
(1987) 'The nature of the vegetational changes at about 5000 B.P. with particular reference to the elm decline: fresh evidence from Connemara, western Ireland'
Molloy, K. and O’Connell, M. (1987) 'The nature of the vegetational changes at about 5000 B.P. with particular reference to the elm decline: fresh evidence from Connemara, western Ireland'. New Phytologist, 106 :203-220 [Details]
(1987) 'THE NATURE OF THE VEGETATIONAL CHANGES AT ABOUT 5000 BP WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE ELM DECLINE - FRESH EVIDENCE FROM CONNEMARA, WESTERN IRELAND'
MOLLOY, K,OCONNELL, M (1987) 'THE NATURE OF THE VEGETATIONAL CHANGES AT ABOUT 5000 BP WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE ELM DECLINE - FRESH EVIDENCE FROM CONNEMARA, WESTERN IRELAND'. New Phytologist, 107 [Details]

Book Chapters

  Year Publication
(2016) 'Farming impact in Ireland from the Neolithic to recent times with particular reference to a detailed pollen record from east Galway'
Molloy, K., O’Connell, M. (2016) 'Farming impact in Ireland from the Neolithic to recent times with particular reference to a detailed pollen record from east Galway' In: Cattle in ancient and modern Ireland: farming practices, environment and economy. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. [Details]
(2014) 'Mooghaun, south east Clare: archaeology, landscape change and early farming'
Mollloy , K. (2014) 'Mooghaun, south east Clare: archaeology, landscape change and early farming' In: Limerick and Shannon Estuary Region. Irish Quaternary Fieldguide No. 32. Dublin: Irish Quaternary Association, Dublin. [Details]
(2014) 'A pollen profile from Ballinphuill bog: vegetation and land-use history'
Molloy, K., Feeser, I. and O’Connell, M. (2014) 'A pollen profile from Ballinphuill bog: vegetation and land-use history' In: The quiet landscape. Archaeological and other discoveries on the route of the M6 Galway to Ballinasloe motorway scheme. NRA Scheme Monographs 15. Dublin: National Roads Authority. [Details]
(2014) 'Farming and woodland dynamics: a new pollen diagram from Ballinphuill Bog (on CD-ROM: /documents/3/Pollen-analysis-Ballinphuil-bog.pdf)'
Molloy, K., Feeser, I. and O’Connell, M. (2014) 'Farming and woodland dynamics: a new pollen diagram from Ballinphuill Bog (on CD-ROM: /documents/3/Pollen-analysis-Ballinphuil-bog.pdf)' In: The quiet landscape. Archaeological investigations on the M6 Galway to Ballinasloe national road scheme. Dublin: National Roads Authority. [Details]
(2014) 'Post-glaciation plant colonization of Ireland: fresh insights from An Loch Mór, Inis Oírr, western Ireland'
Molloy, K. and O’Connell, M. (2014) 'Post-glaciation plant colonization of Ireland: fresh insights from An Loch Mór, Inis Oírr, western Ireland' In: Mind the Gap II. New insights into the Irish postglacial. Belfast: Irish Naturalists' Journal. [Details]
(2012) 'Prehistoric farming in mid-western Ireland:new pollen evidence from Caheraphuca, Co. Clare'
Molloy, K and O'Connell, M (2012) 'Prehistoric farming in mid-western Ireland:new pollen evidence from Caheraphuca, Co. Clare' In: Borderlands. Archaeological investigations along the route of the M18 Gort to Crusheen road scheme. Dublin: National Roads Authority. [Details]
(2011) 'Boom and Bust or sustained development? Fossil pollen records and new insights into Bronze Age Farming in County Clare'
Molloy, K. and O'Connell, M (2011) 'Boom and Bust or sustained development? Fossil pollen records and new insights into Bronze Age Farming in County Clare' In: Past Times, Changing Fortunes. Archaeology and the National Roads Authority Monograph Series No. 8. Dublin: National Roads Authority. [Details]
(2011) 'Boom and bust or sustained development? Fossil pollen records and new insights into Bronze Age farming in County Clare'
Molloy, K., O'Connell, M. (2011) 'Boom and bust or sustained development? Fossil pollen records and new insights into Bronze Age farming in County Clare' In: Past times, changing fortunes. Proceedings of a public seminar on archaeological discoveries on the national road schemes, August 2010. National Roads Authority monograph series 8. Dublin: National Roads Authority. [Details]
(2008) 'Pollen analytical investigations towards the reconstruction of the local environment and land use at Chancellorsland'
Molloy, K. (2008) 'Pollen analytical investigations towards the reconstruction of the local environment and land use at Chancellorsland' In: The Ballyhoura Hills Project. Discovery Programme Monograph. Bray: Wordwell. [Details]
(2008) 'Palaeoenvironment'
Molloy, K. (2008) 'Palaeoenvironment' In: The Ballyhoura Hills Project. Discovery Programme Monograph. Bray: Wordwell. [Details]
(2007) 'Reconstruction of past vegetation history on Clare Island: palaeoenvironmental investigations undertaken in conjunction with the archaeological excavations'
Molloy, K. (2007) 'Reconstruction of past vegetation history on Clare Island: palaeoenvironmental investigations undertaken in conjunction with the archaeological excavations' In: New Survey of Clare Island: Archaeology. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. [Details]
(2005) 'Holocene vegetation and land-use history at Mooghaun, south-east Clare, with particular reference to the Bronze Age'
Molloy, K. (2005) 'Holocene vegetation and land-use history at Mooghaun, south-east Clare, with particular reference to the Bronze Age' In: The North Munster Project, The later prehistoric landscape of south-east Clare. Discovery Programme Monographs 6. Bray: Wordwell. [Details]
(2005) 'Native woodland composition and dynamics: a long-term perspective based on a Holocene pollen profile from Inis Oírr, Aran Islands, western Ireland'
O'Connell, M. and Molloy, K. (2005) 'Native woodland composition and dynamics: a long-term perspective based on a Holocene pollen profile from Inis Oírr, Aran Islands, western Ireland' In: Ireland's Native Woodlands (on CD-ROM). Dublin: Woodlands of Ireland. [Details]
(2000) 'Vegetation and land-use history on High Island: the results of preliminary investigations'
Molloy, K., Fuller, J. and Conaghan, J. (2000) 'Vegetation and land-use history on High Island: the results of preliminary investigations' In: High Island. An Irish Monastery in the Atlantic White. Dublin: Townhouse. [Details]
(1993) 'Early land use and vegetation history at Derryinver Hill, Renvyle Peninsula, Co. Galway, Ireland'
Karen Molloy and Michael O'Connell (1993) 'Early land use and vegetation history at Derryinver Hill, Renvyle Peninsula, Co. Galway, Ireland' In: Climate Change and Human Impact on the Landscape. London: Clapham and Hall. [Details]
(1993) 'Early land use and vegetation history at Derryinver Hill, Renvyle Peninsula, Co. Galway, Ireland'
Molloy, K. and O’Connell, M. (1993) 'Early land use and vegetation history at Derryinver Hill, Renvyle Peninsula, Co. Galway, Ireland' In: Climate Change and Human Impact on the Landscape. London: Chapman and Hall. [Details]
(1988) 'Post-glacial landscape evolution in Connemara, western Ireland with particular reference to woodland history'
O'Connell,M., Molloy,K., and Bowler, M. (1988) 'Post-glacial landscape evolution in Connemara, western Ireland with particular reference to woodland history' In: The Cultural Landscape- Past, Present and Future. Cambridge: University Press. [Details]

Conference Publications

  Year Publication
(2004) Holocene vegetation and land-use dynamics in the karstic environment of Inis Oirr, Aran Islands, western Ireland: pollen analytical evidence evaluated in light of the archaeological record
Molloy, K,O'Connell, M (2004) QUATERNARY INTERNATIONAL Holocene vegetation and land-use dynamics in the karstic environment of Inis Oirr, Aran Islands, western Ireland: pollen analytical evidence evaluated in light of the archaeological record , pp.41-64 [DOI] [Details]

Edited Books

  Year Publication
(1998) South Central Mayo. Field Guide No. 22.
barton,K. and Molloy, K (Ed.). (1998) South Central Mayo. Field Guide No. 22 South Central Mayo. Field Guide No. 22. Dublin: Irish Association for Quaternary Studies, Dublin. [Details]

Other Journals

  Year Publication
(1997) 'Prehistoric farming at Mooghaun - a new pollen diagram from Mooghaun Lough'
Molloy, K. (1997) 'Prehistoric farming at Mooghaun - a new pollen diagram from Mooghaun Lough' Archaeology Ireland, 11 (3) :22-26. [Details]

Reviews

  Year Publication
(2007) Multi-proxy evidence for Holocene lake-level and salinity changes at An Loch Mor, a coastal lake on the Aran Islands, Western Ireland.
Holmes, J,Jones, R,Haas, JN,McDermott, F,Molloy, K,O'Connell, M (2007) Multi-proxy evidence for Holocene lake-level and salinity changes at An Loch Mor, a coastal lake on the Aran Islands, Western Ireland. Reviews [DOI] [Details]