Dr Jackie Ui Chionna

B.A., M.A., H.Dip.Ed., PhD

Contact Details

Post Doctoral Research Fellow
The Moore Institute for Research in the Humanities and Social Science
Floor 2
Hardiman Research Building
NUI Galway
T: 091-493905
M: 086-2456337
E: juchionna@gmail.com
http://jackieuichionna.weebly.com
 
researcher
 

Biography

Jackie Uí Chionna was born in Dublin, but now lives in Galway, in the West of Ireland, where she teaches History at the National University of Ireland, Galway. She has combined a career in heritage management with academia and academic research. A graduate of UCD in History and English, she holds a PhD in History (NUIG), an MA in Heritage Management (UCC), and a Higher Diploma in Education (TCD). Her specialism is in modern Irish history, and she has a particular interest in the social and cultural history of the revolutionary period, 1912-1922, and the emergence of the independent Irish state. Her other research interests include oral history, the history of Irish family businesses, and the history of education. Her recent research is more global in nature, and relates to the history of intelligence, specifically cryptography and the breaking of codes for the purposes of wartime intelligence gathering. She is an experienced oral historian, and has used oral history extensively in her research. A fluent Irish speaker, she has taught history courses through the medium of Irish, and has incorporated Irish language sources extensively  in her publications and conference presentations.

From 2007-2009 she was commissioned as Senior Researcher by NUI Galway to undertake "The University in Living Memory Oral History Project". The project was designed to establish what it was like to study, teach or work at University College Galway from 1930-1980.  A publication based on the project's interviews,  entitled An Oral History of University College Galway, 1930-1980: A University in Living Memory will be published by Four Courts Press, Dublin, in Autumn 2019.

From 2013-15 she held the Thomas McDonogh Post-Doctoral research fellowship at NUIG, during which she produced a biography of Galway businessman, entrepreneur and politician, Máirtín Mór McDonogh . The book He Was Galway: Máirtín Mór McDonogh, 1860-1934 was published by Four Courts Press, Dublin in November 2016.

She is currently a Research Fellow at the Moore Institute for Research in the Humanities and Social Sciences at NUIG, where she is researching  her next book, a biography of Emily Anderson OBE (1891-1962). A former Professor of German at University College Galway, Anderson was recruited by the British Foreign Office in 1918 and was one of the pioneers in the development of cryptanalysis - the breaking of enemy codes for intelligence purposes. Anderson was also a renowned scholar who published landmark works on the letters of Mozart and Beethoven.

Jackie was recently awarded an Archives By-Fellowship at Churchill College Cambridge to work on her biography of Emily Anderson, and will take up the By-Fellowship in April 2019.

She is a member of the organising committee of the INISH: Island Conversations festival, which takes place annually on the island of Inishbofin, off the west coast of Ireland.

Research Interests

My specialism is in modern Irish history, and I have a particular interest in the social and cultural history of the revolutionary period, 1912-1922, and the emergence of the independent Irish state. My other research interests include oral history, the history of Irish family businesses, and the history of education. 

My recent research is more global in nature, and relates to the history of intelligence, specifically cryptography and the breaking of codes for the purposes of wartime intelligence gathering.

I am an experienced oral historian, and have used oral history extensively in my research.

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2018) 'Review of Beamish and Crawford: The History of an Irish Brewery'
Jackie Uí Chionna (2018) 'Review of Beamish and Crawford: The History of an Irish Brewery'. Saothar: Journal Of The Irish Labour History Society, 42 :143-144 [Details]

Books

  Year Publication
(2019) An Oral History of University College Galway 1930-1980: A University in Living Memory.
Jackie Uí Chionna (2019) An Oral History of University College Galway 1930-1980: A University in Living Memory. Dublin: Four Courts Press. [Details]
(2016) He Was Galway Máirtín Mór McDonogh 1860-1934.
Jackie Uí Chionna (2016) He Was Galway Máirtín Mór McDonogh 1860-1934. Dublin: Four Courts Press. [Details]

Book Chapters

  Year Publication
(2000) 'The Role of Civic Trusts in Ireland'
Jackie Uí Chionna (2000) 'The Role of Civic Trusts in Ireland' In: The Heritage of Ireland. Cork: Collins Press. [Details]

Conference Publications

  Year Publication
(2017) Rural Ireland in the Early Twentieth Century: Conflict, Rebellion and Key Developments
Jackie Uí Chionna (2017) The manure factory was a good thing for McDonogh and Sons; but it was a better thing for hundreds of small farmers.': Máirtín Mór McDonogh and the Fertiliser Industry in the West of Ireland Rural Ireland in the Early Twentieth Century: Conflict, Rebellion and Key Developments [Details]

Edited Books

  Year Publication
(2019) Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society.
Jackie Uí Chionna (Ed.). (2019) Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society. Galway: Galway Archaeological and Historical Society. [Details]
(2017) Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society.
Jackie Uí Chionna (Ed.). (2017) Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society. Galway: Galway Archaeological and Historical Society. [Details]

Community Engagement Publications

  Year Publication
(2002) Galway: It's My City/Gaillimh S'í Mo Chathair ´í.
Jackie Uí Chionna (2002) Galway: It's My City/Gaillimh S'í Mo Chathair ´í. Community Engagement Publications [Details]

Honours and Awards

  Year Title Awarding Body
2019 Archives By-Fellow University of Cambridge Churchill College Cambridge
2004 Irish Legal History Society Bursary Irish Legal History Society

Professional Associations

  Association Function From / To
Oral History Society UK Member /
Women's History Association Member /

Committees

  Committee Function From / To
Access Music Project Galway Member /
Network Ireland National PRO /
Scoil Iognáid Board of Management Member /
Galway Civic Trust Member /
National Monuments Advisory Committee Co. Galway Chairperson /
Galway City Development Committee Member (Rep. Community & Voluntary Sector) /
Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (Salthill Branch) Secretary /

Employment

  Employer Position From / To
Department of Labour Civil Servant /
Údarás na Gaeltachta Training Co-Ordinator /
Department of Education Civil Servant /
Galway Civic Trust Manager /
St. Joseph's Secondary School Mountjoy St. Dublin 7. Secondary School Teacher /
National Youth Council of Ireland Development Officer /
Arcana Entertainment Production Marketing Manager /
David Allen Outdoor Advertising Sales Administrator /
National University of Ireland Galway Senior Researcher /
Galway Mayo Institute of Technology Lecturer /
Galway Roscommon Educ. & Training Board Lecturer /
National University of Ireland Galway Tutor/ Part Time Teaching Assistant /
National University of Ireland Galway Post Doctoral Research Fellow /

Education

  Year Institution Qualification Subject
1997 University College Cork MASTERS DEGREE (LEVEL 9) Heritage Management
1992 University College Cork POST-GRADUATE DIPLOMA (LEVEL 9) Heritage Management
1987 Trinity College Dublin Higher Diploma Education
2011 National University of Ireland Galway PhD History
1986 UCD B.A. (Mod) History, English

Languages

  Language
English
Irish
French

Consultancy

  Client Description
Turasóireacht Chonamara & Árann Teo.
Prepared a feasibility study on the development of Marine Tourism in the Gaeltacht of Co. Galway and the Aran Islands.

Community Engagement

  Title Type From / To
Board Membership Secretary, Salthill Branch CCE /
Board Membership Manager, Galway Civic Trust /
Board Membership Galway City Development Board /

Reviews

  Journal Role
Journal Of The Galway Archaeological And Historical Society Editor

Other Activities

  Description

Mentor to students entering the ACCESS course at NUIG, and Tutor to students registered with NUIG's Disability Office.

Teaching Interests

My specialism is in modern Irish history, and I have a particular interest in the social and cultural history of the revolutionary period, 1912-1922, and the emergence of the independent Irish state. I have taught numerous courses on the emergence of independent Ireland, but have also taught courses on 19th century history, and on Early Christian Ireland. For 12 years I taught an online module on Early Christian Ireland, offered jointly by Regis University, Colorado, and NUIG.

As an experienced oral historian I have also taught courses on oral history. My MA is in Heritage Management, and I have taught courses on Heritage Interpretation and Practice, Local History, Genealogy, and Heritage Tourism.

As a fluent Irish speaker, she I have taught history courses through the medium of Irish, and I have incorporated Irish language sources extensively in my publications and conference presentations.

Modules Taught

  Term/Year Module Title Module Code Subject / Desc
2004 - Present Skills for Historians HISK1101 History