Staff

Director: Professor Kevin Whelan

Kevin, a native of County Wexford, is one of a family of twelve. He attended secondary school at the faithful Companions of Jesus Convent in Bunclody. He received his doctorate from University College Dublin in 1981 followed by a Travelling Studentship from the National University of Ireland, which he held at Memorial University, Newfoundland. He is a former Newman Scholar at University College Dublin, and Bicentennial Research Fellow at the Royal Irish Academy. Between 1995 and 1998, he was historical advisor to the Irish government on the Famine and the 1798 Rebellion. Kevin was named the inaugural Michael Smurfit Director of the Keough Notre Dame Centre in Ireland in 1998. He has been a visiting professor at New York University, Boston College and Concordia University (Montreal). He has lectured in over a dozen countries, and at the Sorbonne, Cambridge, Oxford, Torino, Berkeley, Yale, Dartmouth and Louvain. He has written or edited fifteen books and over one hundred articles on Ireland’s history, geography, literature and culture. These include The Tree of Liberty. Radicalism, Catholicism and the Construction of Irish Identity 1760-1830 (1996), Fellowship of Freedom: The United Irishmen and the 1798 Rebellion (1998), and the best selling Atlas of the Irish Rural Landscape (second edition 2011). Among influential articles are those on ‘An underground gentry?’, ‘The Republic in the Village’, ‘The Memories of “The Dead”’ and ‘The Green Atlantic’. Since 1999, Kevin has co-directed the annual Irish Seminar, the leading seminar in the field of Irish Studies, whose faculty has included Edward Said, Seamus Heaney, Derek Walcott, John MacGahern, Edna O’Brien, Homi Bhabha, Fred Jameson, Jacqueline Rose and Benedict Anderson. He and his wife Anne Kearney have four children – Bébhinn, Fionn, Ruaidhrí and Eamonn.

Assistant Director: Lisa M. Caulfield

A first generation Canadian, born in Toronto, Lisa moved to Ireland in 2003. She graduated from the University of Toronto after completing an Honors BA in English and History. She also attended Ryerson University where she completed a business diploma in Book Publishing. Lisa worked as a book buyer and account manager for a national print distributor in Canada. In 2004 she completed an MA in Modern Irish Literature from the National University, in Maynooth, County Kildare. Her academic interest focuses upon the role of the mythic hero in Irish literature, drama, art and poetry. Lisa joined the Keough Naughton Centre, University of Notre Dame, in 2004 and has since taken on an ambassadorial role for all visitors including Notre Dame students, faculty and staff. She helps run the various academic international programs that are organized at the centre. She also manages the operations and public relations of the historic O’Connell House, once home to Irish politician Daniel O’Connell (1775-1847).

Programmes & Communications Manager: Eimear C. Delaney

Eimear comes from Tullow, County Carlow in Ireland and joined O’Connell House in 2008. She graduated from Dublin City University with a BA in Communication Studies in 2005 and more recently completed an MA in Management at DCU. As Programmes & Communications Manager her role includes the coordination of the Madden Rooney graduate Irish Seminar, the Keough Internship Programme and the Dublin Summer Programme. She is responsible for the design and production of all publicity materials and manages web content and social media projects. Before joining O’Connell House Eimear spent time working at University College Dublin and Massey University, New Zealand.

Undergraduate Programme Manager: Joseph Stranix

Joe is from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and joined the O’Connell House in 2009. As the Undergraduate Programme Manager, Joe handles the academic registrations of students, as well as planning several programme trips each year, in addition to other undergraduate events. As a 2009 ND graduate with a degree in history and a concentration in international peace studies, Joe is the token Domer on staff. He spent the 2007-08 academic year enrolled in Trinity College, Dublin.

Facilities Assistant: Louise Marren

Louise is from Tubbercurry, County Sligo and joined O’Connell House in June 2011. Her role includes establishing a hospitable atmosphere in the House, office management, and assisting with the smooth day-to-day running of the house. She graduated from Sligo Institute of Technology in 2008 with a BA in Information Systems Management. In 2010 she completed an MA in Human Resource Management at John Morres University of Liverpool.

Reception: Rachel McEvoy

Rachel is from Portlaoise, County Laois. She graduated with a BA in Geography and History at University College Dublin and later completed a Masters in Sociology. She held a full time volunteering position with Dublin Simon Community before coming to work with the Keough Naughton Notre Dame Centre.