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Political Science & Sociology

DR SHEILA GARRITY

M.A., Ph.D

Contact Details

Lecturer
ILAS
Dangan
North Campus
NUIGalway
T: 091-494048
E: sheila.garrity@nuigalway.ie
 
researcher
 

Biography

Dr Sheila Garrity is a Lecturer with the UNESCO Child & Family Research Centre and the School of Political Science and Sociology. She is also the Academic Coordinator of the BA Honours Degree in Early Childhood Studies & Practice and the MA in Early Childhood Studies, delivered through the Centre for Adult Learning & Professional Development at NUI Galway. Dr Garrity lectures on a number of modules and supports the lecturing team within the programme and also lectures in the School of Political Science and Sociology at NUI Galway. As part of her role with the UNESCO CFRC, Dr Garrity contributes to the MA in Family Support Studies (FSS) and supervises MA/FSS for the Year 2 thesis. She also supervises Doctoral students based in the U-CFRC and contributes to a number of Graduate Research Committees across the University. Sheila completed the MA in FSS through the U-CFRC and the Structured PhD in Child & Youth Studies. The focus of her doctoral research was an ethnographic study of relationships between mothers and their childcare providers within the Irish Early Years context.Sheila sat her doctoral VIVA on November 6, 2013 and was formally conferred with her PhD on 17th June, 2014.

Dr Garrity's professional expertise is sought after from groups and organisations at a national level. Most recently the Department of Education and Skills requested Dr Garrity act as an 'External Examiner' in a review of the Early Years Education Focused Inspections. In addition, the Academic Council of the Dublin Institute of Technology approved Dr Garrity as the External Examiner for the newly developed MA degree in Mentoring, Management and Leadership in the Early Years.

Dr Garrity was the Principal Investigator of the recently completed evaluation of childcare services in Co. Mayo, funded through TUSLA the Child & Family Agency. The resulting report, co written with colleagues in the U-CFRC is titled: 'Hoping for a Better Tomorrow': A Process Study Evaluation of the Greater Tomorrow Creche and Ballyhaunis Community Preschool Servics, Ballyhaunis Co. Mayo, and is available here:  https://aran.library.nuigalway.ie/handle/10379/6040

Research Interests

Early Childhood/Early Years Education and Care;
Family Support through ECEC;
Ethic of Care;
Professional Development for the Early Years sector; 
ECEC policy in Ireland and the EU
Community-based Childcare
Inclusion in ECEC

Research Projects

  Project Start Date End Date
'Hoping for a Better Tomorrow' A Process Study Evaluation of the Greater Tomorrow Créche and Ballyhaunis Community Preschool Services, Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo. 30-JAN-15 01-JUN-16

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2011) 'It's Not Like a Job Now; It's Part of Me: Exploring African Women's Experiences in the Irish Childcare Sector'
McGrath, B. & Garrity, S. (2011) 'It's Not Like a Job Now; It's Part of Me: Exploring African Women's Experiences in the Irish Childcare Sector'. Child Care in Practice, 17 (1):69-86 [Details]
(2016) 'Garrity, S., Moran, L., McGregor, C. and Devaney, C. (2016) ‘An informed pedagogy of community, care and respect for diversity: evidence from a qualitative evaluation of early years’ services in the West of Ireland’ Child care in practice (submitted for publication July 2016)'
Garrity, S., Moran, L., McGregor, C. and Devaney, C. (2016) (2016) 'Garrity, S., Moran, L., McGregor, C. and Devaney, C. (2016) ‘An informed pedagogy of community, care and respect for diversity: evidence from a qualitative evaluation of early years’ services in the West of Ireland’ Child care in practice (submitted for publication July 2016)'. Child Care In Practice, [Details]
(2016) '‘Hoping for a better tomorrow’: a qualitative study of stressors, informal social support and parental coping in a Direct Provision centre in the West of Ireland’'
Moran, L., Garrity, S., McGregor, C. and Devaney, C. (2016) (2016) '‘Hoping for a better tomorrow’: a qualitative study of stressors, informal social support and parental coping in a Direct Provision centre in the West of Ireland’'. Journal Of Family Issues, [Details]
(2017) 'Trust, responsiveness and communities of care: an ethnographic study of the significance and development of parent-caregiver relationships in Irish early years settings'
Garrity, S,Canavan, J (2017) 'Trust, responsiveness and communities of care: an ethnographic study of the significance and development of parent-caregiver relationships in Irish early years settings'. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 25 :747-767 [DOI] [Details]
(2017) 'Hoping for a better tomorrow: a qualitative study of stressors, informal social support and parental coping in a Direct Provision centre in the West of Ireland'
Moran, L., Garrity, S., McGregor, C. & Devaney, C. (2017) 'Hoping for a better tomorrow: a qualitative study of stressors, informal social support and parental coping in a Direct Provision centre in the West of Ireland'. Journal of Family Studies, [DOI] [Details]
(2017) 'An Informed Pedagogy of Community, Care, and Respect for Diversity: Evidence from a Qualitative Evaluation of Early Years Services in the West of Ireland'
Sheila Garrity, Lisa Moran, Caroline McGregor & Carmel Devaney (2017) 'An Informed Pedagogy of Community, Care, and Respect for Diversity: Evidence from a Qualitative Evaluation of Early Years Services in the West of Ireland'. Child Care In Practice, Volume 23 (3):305-321 [DOI] [ARAN Link] [Details]
(2017) 'Trust, responsiveness and communities of care: an ethnographic study of the significance and development of parent-caregiver relationships in Irish early years settings'
Garrity, S;Canavan, J (2017) 'Trust, responsiveness and communities of care: an ethnographic study of the significance and development of parent-caregiver relationships in Irish early years settings'. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 25 :747-767 [DOI] [ARAN Link] [Details]
(2017) 'Hoping for a better tomorrow: a qualitative study of stressors, informal social support and parental coping in a Direct Provision centre in the West of Ireland'
Lisa Moran; Sheila Garrity; Caroline McGregor; Carmel Devaney (2017) 'Hoping for a better tomorrow: a qualitative study of stressors, informal social support and parental coping in a Direct Provision centre in the West of Ireland'. Journal of Family Studies, 0 :1-16 [DOI] [Details]
(2011) '“It's Not Like a Job Now; It's Part of Me”: Exploring African Women's Experiences in the Irish Childcare Sector'
Sheila Garrity; Brian McGrath (2011) '“It's Not Like a Job Now; It's Part of Me”: Exploring African Women's Experiences in the Irish Childcare Sector'. Child Care In Practice, 17 (1):69-86 [DOI] [Details]

Published Reports

  Year Publication
(2012) Mobilising Peer Support in Schools: A Review of the BBBS School Based Mentoring Programme.
Brady, B, Canavan, J., Cassidy, A., Garrity, S., O'Regan, C. (2012) Mobilising Peer Support in Schools: A Review of the BBBS School Based Mentoring Programme. Foróige Best Practice Unit, Dublin. [ARAN Link] [Details]
(2016) Hoping for a Better Tomorrow A process study evaluation of the Greater Tomorrow Creche and Ballyhaunis Preschool Services, Ballyhaunis, Mayo. Summary Report.
Moran, L., Garrity, S., Mc Gregor, C., and Devaney, C., (2016) Hoping for a Better Tomorrow A process study evaluation of the Greater Tomorrow Creche and Ballyhaunis Preschool Services, Ballyhaunis, Mayo. Summary Report. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, Dublin. [ARAN Link] [Details]
(2016) Hoping for a Better Tomorrow A process study evaluation of the Greater Tomorrow Creche and Ballyhaunis Preschool Services, Ballyhaunis, Mayo.
Moran, L., Garrity, S., Mc Gregor, C., and Devaney, C., (2016) Hoping for a Better Tomorrow A process study evaluation of the Greater Tomorrow Creche and Ballyhaunis Preschool Services, Ballyhaunis, Mayo. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, Dublin. [ARAN Link] [Details]
(2012) Big Brother Big Sister Mobilising Peer Support in Schools: An Evaluation of the BBBS school mentoring programme.
Brady B., Canavan, C., Cassidy, A., Garrity, S. and O' Regan, C. (2012) Big Brother Big Sister Mobilising Peer Support in Schools: An Evaluation of the BBBS school mentoring programme. The UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre, Galway. [Details]
(2016) 'Hoping for a Better Tomorrow' A Process Study Evaluation of the Greater Tomorrow Créche and Ballyhaunis Community Preschool Services, Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo.
Dr Lisa Moran, Dr Sheila Garrity, Prof Caroline McGregor, Dr Carmel Devanney (2016) 'Hoping for a Better Tomorrow' A Process Study Evaluation of the Greater Tomorrow Créche and Ballyhaunis Community Preschool Services, Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo. The UNESCO Child &Family Research Centre, The National University of Ireland, Galway, Galway. [Details]
(2012) Mobilising Peer Support in Schools: A Review of the BBBS School Based Mentoring Programme.
Brady, B, Canavan, J., Cassidy, A., Garrity, S., O'Regan, C.( (2012) Mobilising Peer Support in Schools: A Review of the BBBS School Based Mentoring Programme. Foróige Best Practice Unit, Dublin. [Details]

Conference Contributions

  Year Publication
(2016) ‘Hoping for a better tomorrow’: A Qualitative Study of Perceptions and Experiences of Asylum Seekers about Direct Provision in Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo,
Moran, L., Garrity, S., Devaney, C. and C. McGregor (2016) (2016) ‘Hoping for a better tomorrow’: A Qualitative Study of Perceptions and Experiences of Asylum Seekers about Direct Provision in Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo. [Oral Presentation], ‘Hoping for a better tomorrow’: A Qualitative Study of Perceptions and Experiences of Asylum Seekers about Direct Provision in Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo, University of Limerick , 14-MAY-16 - 14-APR-16. [Details]
(2016) Abstract accepted to the Child Poverty in Times of Crisis Conference, Centre for Ethics and Poverty Research, University of Salzburg, August 25-26 2016,
Moran, L., Garrity, S., Devaney, C. and C. McGregor (2016) (2016) This paper focuses on narratives of resilience, identity and coping of parents from asylum seeking communities living in a Direct Provision centre in Ballyhaunis, a rural community in the West of Ireland. [Oral Presentation], Abstract accepted to the Child Poverty in Times of Crisis Conference, Centre for Ethics and Poverty Research, University of Salzburg, August 25-26 2016, Salzburg , 25-AUG-16 - 26-AUG-16. [Details]
‘Hoping for a better Tomorrow’: Family Support through community childcare provision in Ballyhaunis Co. Mayo,
Garrity, S., Moran, L., Devaney, C. and McGregor, C. (2016) Community childcare in rural Ireland; family support principles and practice. [Invited Oral Presentation], ‘Hoping for a better Tomorrow’: Family Support through community childcare provision in Ballyhaunis Co. Mayo, European Early Childhood Education Research Association Annual Conference, Dublin, August 2016) . [Details]
‘Hoping for a better Tomorrow’,
Garrity, S., Moran, L., Devaney, C. and McGregor, C. (2016) Abstract accepted to the Ethics and Social Welfare in Hard Times Conference. [Invited Oral Presentation], ‘Hoping for a better Tomorrow’, London, UK . [Details]
(2016) Hoping for a better tomorrow’: Narratives of Coping, Resilience and Family Support arising from a study of Early Years services and the experience of parents, including those resident in Direct Provis,
Garrity, S., Moran, L., Devaney, C. and McGregor, C. (2016) (2016) Irish Social Sciences Platform and the National Economic & Social Council, Dublin. [Oral Presentation], Hoping for a better tomorrow’: Narratives of Coping, Resilience and Family Support arising from a study of Early Years services and the experience of parents, including those resident in Direct Provis, Dublin , 08-JUN-16 - 08-JUN-16. [Details]
(2017) Early Childhood Challenges and Opportunities: Embracing Challenge and Inventing Tomorrow,
Dr Sheila Garrity (2017) .Diversity, Inclusion and Family Support in Early Years Settings: a Case Study. [Invited Oral Presentation], Early Childhood Challenges and Opportunities: Embracing Challenge and Inventing Tomorrow, UCC Cork, Ireland , 20-MAY-17 - 20-MAY-17. [Details]
(2018) Maximising Health and Well-being for Young Children in Roscommon,
Dr Sheila Garrity (2018) Well-being in the Early Years: the what and the why. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Maximising Health and Well-being for Young Children in Roscommon, Roscommon Town, County Roscommon , 09-MAR-18 - 09-MAR-18. [Details]
(2018) Time and Space: Developing Enabling Environments that Nurture and Inspire,
Dr Sheila Garrity (2018) ‘Developing Early Years Practice Through Reflection’. [Invited Oral Presentation], Time and Space: Developing Enabling Environments that Nurture and Inspire, ILAS, National University of Ireland Galway , 24-MAR-18 - 24-MAR-18. [Details]
(2016) Which Path Ahead?Perspectives on Policy from Irish Social Science,
L Moran S Garrity, C McGregor C Devaney (2016) ‘Hoping for a better tomorrow: a qualitative study of stressors, informal social support and parental coping in a Direct Provision centre in the West of Ireland’. [Invited Lecture], Which Path Ahead?Perspectives on Policy from Irish Social Science, Dublin , 11-MAY-16 - 11-MAY-16. [Details]
(2017) Motherlines: Mothering, Motherhood and Mothers In and Through the Generations: Theory, Narrative, Representation, Practice and Experience,
Dr Sheila Garrity (2017) 'I just knew' Trust and intuition in the Development of Parent-Practitioner Relationships in the Irish Early Years Sector. [Plenary Lecture], Motherlines: Mothering, Motherhood and Mothers In and Through the Generations: Theory, Narrative, Representation, Practice and Experience, NUI Galway , 06-JUL-17 - 09-JUL-17. [Details]
(2017) OMEP: EARLY CHILDHOOD CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES: EMBRACING CHALLENGE AND INVENTING TOMORROW,
Sheila Garrity (co-authors L. Moran, C. McGregor, C. Devaney) (2017) OMEP: World Organisation for Early Childhood Education. [Keynote Address], OMEP: EARLY CHILDHOOD CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES: EMBRACING CHALLENGE AND INVENTING TOMORROW, Cork, Ireland , 20-MAY-17 - 20-MAY-17. [Details]
(2016) Child poverty in times of crisis conference,
Moran, L., Garrity, S., McGregor, C. and Devaney, C. (2016) 'Hoping for a better tomorrow: narratives of coping, resilience and identity among parents in a Direct Provision centre in the west of Ireland'. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Child poverty in times of crisis conference, Centre for Ethics and Poverty Research, University of Salzburg , 25-AUG-16 - 26-AUG-16. [Details]
(2016) 'Building Resilience, Enhancing Social Support: What Research Tells Us',
Garrity, S., Moran, L., McGregor, C. and Devaney, C. (2016) 'Hoping for a Better Tomorrow': Family Support through Community Childcare provision. [Invited Oral Presentation], 'Building Resilience, Enhancing Social Support: What Research Tells Us', Dublin , 06-DEC-16 - 06-DEC-16. [Details]
(2016) Ethics and Social Welfare in Hard Times,
Garrity, S., Moran, L., Devaney, C. and McGregor, C. (2016) Practicing Politics in Preschool: Disrupting State policy through Ethical Practice in an Early Years Setting in the West of Ireland. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Ethics and Social Welfare in Hard Times, London: Journal of Ethics and Social Welfare , 01-SEP-16 - 02-SEP-16. [Details]
(2016) European Early Childhood Education Research Association Annual Conference,,
Garrity, S., Moran, L., Devaney, C. and McGregor, C. (2016) Community childcare in rural Ireland; family support principles and practice (2016) Hoping for a better Tomorrow’: Family Support through community childcare provision in Ballyhaunis Co. Mayo,. [Oral Presentation], European Early Childhood Education Research Association Annual Conference,, Dublin , 31-AUG-16 - 03-SEP-16. [Details]
(2016) ‘Hoping for a better tomorrow’: A Qualitative Study of Perceptions and Experiences of Asylum Seekers about Direct Provision in Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo,
Moran, L., Garrity, S., Devaney, C. and C. McGregor (2016) ‘Hoping for a better tomorrow’: A Qualitative Study of Perceptions and Experiences of Asylum Seekers about Direct Provision in Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo. [Oral Presentation], ‘Hoping for a better tomorrow’: A Qualitative Study of Perceptions and Experiences of Asylum Seekers about Direct Provision in Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo, University of Limerick , 14-APR-16 - 14-APR-16. [Details]
(2015) Us, Them, Me: Universal Targeted or Individualised Early Childhood Programmes - European Early Childhood Education Research Association,
Sheila Garrity (2015) Communities of Care: Vulnerability and Shared Caregiving. [Oral Presentation], Us, Them, Me: Universal Targeted or Individualised Early Childhood Programmes - European Early Childhood Education Research Association, Greece , 01-SEP-15 - 05-SEP-15. [Details]
(2014) Qualitative approaches to research and evaluation concerning children and young people with a view to informing policy,
Sheila Garrity (2014) Qualitative research in the early years sector: Implications for policy and Practice. [Invited Oral Presentation], Qualitative approaches to research and evaluation concerning children and young people with a view to informing policy, Galway, Ireland , 14-OCT-14 - 14-OCT-14. [Details]
(2014) 9th Annual Ethnography Symposium - Liverpool University School of Management,
Sheila Garrity (2014) Title: Maternal-Caregiver relationships on the threshold between the private and the public. [Oral Presentation], 9th Annual Ethnography Symposium - Liverpool University School of Management, Ipswich, Suffolk, UK , 27-AUG-14 - 27-AUG-14. [Details]
(2013) ‘Global Gathering for Early Childhood’ - Early Childhood Ireland,
Sheila Garrity (2013) 'People think it’s not the real world – but it’s our world': Exploring engagement between mothers and early years practitioners in a changing Ireland. [Oral Presentation], ‘Global Gathering for Early Childhood’ - Early Childhood Ireland, Dublin, Ireland , 16-OCT-13 - 19-OCT-13. [Details]

Professional Associations

  Association Function From / To
Children's Research Network Early Years Sub-group 01-SEP-15 /
European Early Childhood Education & Research Association SIG: Working with Children & Families 31-AUG-15 /
PLÉ: Pedagogy Learning & Education Association of Universities/Institutes of Education delivering third level study in Early Childhood Education 01-SEP-15 /

Education

  Year Institution Qualification Subject
2013 National University of Ireland, Galway PhD Sociology
2009 National University of Ireland, Galway MASTERS DEGREE (LEVEL 9) Family Support Studies
2011 National University of Ireland, Galway Diploma Training & Education

Other Activities

  Description

Expert Contributor: Community Consultation Presenting: Maximising Well-being, Learning and Development in Children 0 - 3 in Galway City Children and Young Peoples’ Services Committee, TUSLA, January 2015

Teaching Interests

Social Policy, particularly early childhood and family policy;
Reflective Practice;
Care Ethics and Policy;
ECEC and Family Support;
Professional Development in the ECEC sector;
Qualitative Social Research, including ethnography. 

Recent Postgraduate Students

  Graduation Name Degree Primary Supervisor
2015 Theresa Gyoh MASTERS DEGREE (LEVEL 9) Y

Modules Taught

  Term/Year Module Title Module Code Subject / Desc
Full Year, Year One Work Based Project Year 1: Reflective Practice ECS106 Introduction to the theories and practice of reflection in ECEC.
Full Year; Year Four Research Dissertation ECS404 Social Research
3rd Year, Spring Early Childhood Education and Care: Research and Policy SP3113 Exploration of policy development in Ireland in relation to the Early Childhood Education sector; the impact of research in ECEC is considered in terms of influencing policy development. Irish policy is situated within the European and International context.