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Staff

Dr Kathy Reilly

B.A.,H.Dip., Ph.D

Contact Details

Lecturer Above The Bar
Room 105
Geography
Off the Arts Concourse
University of Galway
T: Ext. 4105
E: kathy.reilly@universityofgalway.ie
 
researcher
 

Biography

Dr Reilly specialises in geographic research focused on social, cultural and environmental themes. She completed her PhD at University of Galway in 2009; this work was funded by a prestigious Government of Ireland Postgraduate Research Scholarship funded by the Irish Research Council. Dr Reilly's PhD explored geographies of educational opportunity in Ireland, the UK and France. Following this work Dr Reilly was appointed as a Postdoctoral Researcher on a Marie Curie and Irish Research Council funded project, working with Dr Valerie Ledwith, exploring migrant educational experiences in Galway City and urban-fringe. This work focused specifically on issues of educational attainment, achievement and aspiration. In 2010 - 2011 Kathy was appointed as a lecturer in Geography at St Patrick's College (Dublin City University), where she further developed her interest in critical geographies of children, young people and families.  

In 2012 Dr Reilly returned to Galway as a University Fellow and was appointed lecturer in Geography in 2014. Dr Reilly was a Dobbins Scholar in 2014, where she spent time as a visiting fellow in Geography at University of York in Canada. From 2016 - 2019 Dr Reilly was appointed Associate Dean (Undergraduate Studies) for the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies. She has won numerous teaching awards (a European Comenious Award to support teaching and a team award for teaching excellence from NAIRTL) and was recognised as a National Teaching Hero for her work supporting students learning during the global pandemic in 2021. In recognition for her work as Chair of EUGEO 2019 (with Professor Frances Fahy) Dr Reilly was awarded the inaugural Spotlight on Sustainability Award and was recognised for her excellence in conference organisation by Fáilte Ireland. In 2024, as part of her work on the CCC-CATAPULT project, she was awarded an ENLIGHT IMPACT Award.  

Research Interests


I am an active researcher and lecturer in social, cultural and environmental geography. My expertise and central research interests predominantly straddle a number of arenas within critical geographic inquiry; these include: geographies of children, young people and families; geographies of social justice (migration and homelessness); and participative field-based research practice. To date my research has engaged communities in Ireland, France, UK, Finland, Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Canada. All of my research practice is principally underpinned by participative field-based methodologies, allowing for co-productive methods with various communities in Ireland and globally. In doing so, I acknowledge the need to work with research communities within and beyond the academic, connecting with community collaborators, activists and practitioners across various interdisciplinary fields. I am cognisant to the importance of listening to the communities within which I work and in allowing the development of a reciprocal dialogue, whereby future research agendas and methodological design are informed by and through conversations with collaborating partners. I have also had success in securing funding and financial support for a number of on-going projects. Recent research projects include:
  • LOcalised ADaptation (LOAD) for Climate Change in Ireland and Timor-Leste: Co-Developing Frameworks for Nature-based-Solutions (Marine Institute, as funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs): The LOAD project investigates the application of good practice in adaptation implementation methods to address knowledge gaps in Ireland and Timor Leste. The outcome is to tailor good practice and guidance on key elements at certain procedural stages invoking the values and practices inherent to a nature-based solutions (NbS) approach. With a focus on adaptation, the project aims to develop a `learning comparison¿, co-producing reciprocal and multi-directional knowledge transfer between Timor-Leste and Ireland to enhance NbS capacities in both countries. Focusing on a small number of case studies, the project harnesses local expertise to develop a series of location-specific adaptation measures. The site-specificity of this approach contrasts with mitigation initiatives that often occur at the national scale. The project incorporates co-productive, creative and qualitative methodologies that can be tailored to support outputs that are distinctly local and therefore will have immediate impact and influence. The developed methodological sequence in itself presents a valuable output, in that the steps can be replicated across any site with capacity to acknowledge local contexts.  The LOAD project will run from January 2024 ¿ December 2026. The project PI is Dr Kevin Lynch and the Co-PI is Dr Kathy Reilly from the Geography Department at the University of Galway. The project is also joined by PhD researcher Arsenia de Cruz from Timor Leste. For further details on the project contact: kevin.lynch@universityofgalway.ie or Kathy.reilly@universityofgalway.ie. 
  • CCC-CATAPULT (Children's Agency to Tackle Policy Underpinned by Learning for Transformation; JPI CLIMATE and EPA RESEARCH Award): The project examines children's climate agency, the value-action gap and means to bridge this gap in four European city-regions. Through an ethos of co-production we explore young people's social norms, worldviews, and emotions in relation to climate change, in addition to educators' views on climate change education. The project strives to enable transformative learning for climate change education, proposing policies to support these developments. The project is funded through the JPI CLIMATE initiative from Dec 2020 to Nov 2023.
  • The Places and Spaces of Childhood Project: This project is a participative project that aims to transcend classroom learning through the development of field-based research skills. The project is built on the participation of three elements: university staff, Final Year Geography students and children aged 8 - 10. As part of this experience Final Year Geography students were required to complete a mental-mapping methodology with children; facilitating the production of a mental map, a recording of the child's explanation of that map and a student reflective journal. In addition to constructing a picture of childhood in Ireland, this participatory project evaluates student performance in field-based contexts, reviewing students' effectiveness in co-creating geographic knowledge. By extension the project explores the relationship between theory and practice, whereby classroom learning becomes practiced in a field-based (and real world) context. This project was published as part of the edited volume Narrating Childhood (2021).
  • Deconstructing Homelessness: Finding a Place for Geography (IRC Policy for Society Award): The `Deconstructing Homelessness' project aims to engage a multi-stakeholder approach drawing from contemporary policy, mediated non-profit (or NGO) campaign perspectives, community and social worker experiences, and the voice of the homeless person. Ultimately, the project examines an emerging disconnect between the mediated representations of homeless communities in Ireland and the multiple lived realities of being homeless. In doing so the project aims to make a significant contribution to Irish policy interventions on homelessness (and its associated legislation and action plans) in addition to challenging societal perceptions of the homeless experience.
  • Exploring Geographies of Opportunity among Young Migrants: Working with Dr. Valerie Ledwith and a number of community partners this research explores the emergence of a two-tiered schooling system in Galway City and County. This mixed-method project examined young migrants¿ experiences of educational opportunity; including a focus on access, participation, aspiration and attainment. The project also examined a variety of family, school and neighbourhood effects, to consider the influence of each on overall student experiences. The project facilitated the development of a network between researchers at NUI Galway, community development practitioners across Galway City and County, and most importantly with migrant and new-comer communities.
  • Transitioning to University (Galway Rural Development Research Grant): Working with, and informed by various community partners, this project examines the experiences of migrants and mature students living in Galway City and County who have successfully transitioned to university.  As part of this project the collected data has the potential to inform positive strategies to enhance educational opportunities of other `non-traditional¿ students living in communities across Ireland. More practically, the project also facilitates the emergence of a discussion forum where young people can critically engage with issues pertaining to integration, citizenship and belonging. ·         
  • Critical and Participative Field-Based Learning Pedagogies: This research project is informed directly through staff and MA ESD student field experiences. Working with colleagues in Geography at NUI Galway, the University of Northampton (UK), and a series of community partners (including UNDP Bosnia; EU Delegation to Bosnia; British Council, and a series of NGOs and CSO organisations), we consider the complexity of engaging critical field-based learning pedagogies in `post-conflict¿ Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The research highlights some of the key challenges to initiating and practicing field-based learning pedagogies in fluid, dynamic and unsystematic research contexts. I reflect on the complexities involved in seeking to facilitate and practice critical participatory knowledges that comprise academic, student and civic engagement values. I am interested in unpacking the liminal, often uncomfortable, position of researchers (student or academic staff) during and post field-based learning, balancing the contentious and necessary arena of data collection with community perceptions of extractive research practice.  ·         

Research Projects

  Project Start Date End Date
Localised Adaptation (LOAD) for Climate Change in Ireland and Timor Leste: Co-Developing Frameworks for Nature-based-Solutions 01-JAN-24 31-DEC-26
CCC-CATAPULT 01-JAN-20 31-DEC-23
DE-CONSTRUCTING HOMELESSNESS: FINDING A PLACE FOR GEOGRAPHY? 09-JAN-17 09-NOV-19
IRC POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP 2016 ELAINE WILLIAMS - Creating Opportunities for Engagement: Exploring the relationship between the Burren landscape and civil society 01-OCT-16 31-OCT-20
Kathy Reilly General Research Account 18-MAY-18 17-MAY-23
IRC POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP 2020 V'CENZA CIREFICE: LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL RESISTANCE TO EXTRACTIVISM IN IRELAND: A FEMINIST ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE LENS 01-OCT-20 30-SEP-28

Contract Researchers

  Researcher Name Project Role Funding Body
Dr Margaret Brehony Deconstructing Homelessness: Finding a Place for Geography? (RCS1569) Postdoctoral Researcher

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2024) 'From local to national ¿ lessons from a community stewardship perspective'
Bird, Áine; Reilly, Kathy (2024) 'From local to national ¿ lessons from a community stewardship perspective'. Irish Geography, 56 (1) [DOI] [Details]
(2024) 'Learning from young people¿s experiences of climate change education'
Kathy Reilly, Bronagh Dillon, Frances Fahy, Dean Phelan, Essi Aarnio Linnanvuori, Laura De Vito, Ilaria Gnecco, Deepak Gopinath, Andrew Holmes, Sophie Laggan, Anette Mansikka-aho, Anna Palla, Rosamund Portus, Inkeri Rissanen, Sabrina Sposito, SaraJayne Williams & Lindsey McEwen (2024) 'Learning from young people¿s experiences of climate change education'. Geography, 109 (1):44-48 [Details]
(2024) 'Reflections on co-productive research in a youth-focused climate education project'
Portus, R., Williams, S.-J., Mansikka-aho, A., Reilly, K., Aarnio-Linnanvuori, E., de Vito, L., Dillon, B., Fahy, F., Gnecco, I., Palla, A., Sposito, S., & McEwen, L. (2024) 'Reflections on co-productive research in a youth-focused climate education project'. Geographical Research, :1-16 [DOI] [Details]
(2024) 'Distant suffering and digital knowledge politics: New trajectories for critical geography'
Keenaghan, N. & Reilly, K. (2024) 'Distant suffering and digital knowledge politics: New trajectories for critical geography'. Georgaphy Compass, 18 (4) [DOI] [Details]
(2024) 'Exploring environmental value action gap and education research: a semi-systematic literature review'
Rosamund Portus, Essi Aarnio-Linnanvuori, Bronagh Dillon, Frances Fahy, Deepak Gopinath, Anette Mansikka-Aho, Sara-Jayne Williams, Kathy Reilly & Lindsey McEwen (2024) 'Exploring environmental value action gap and education research: a semi-systematic literature review'. Environmental Education Research, 30 (6):833-863 [DOI] [Details]
(2024) 'Exploring the association between growth mindsets and climate action with young people'
¿ Rissanen, I., Kuusisto, E., Aarnio-Linnanvuori, E., Portus, R., Williams, S.J., Laggan, S., Reilly, K. and Vainikainen, M.P. (2024) 'Exploring the association between growth mindsets and climate action with young people'. Social Psychology Of Education, :1-21 [DOI] [Details]
(2022) 'Making Evaluation Work for the Practitioner Evaluator: Experience from the Field of Environmental Education'
Áine Bird; Frances Fahy; Kathy Reilly (2022) 'Making Evaluation Work for the Practitioner Evaluator: Experience from the Field of Environmental Education'. Environmental Education Research, 28 (5):715-734 [DOI] [Details]
(2017) 'Mediating representations of poverty and development: a help or a hindrance?'
Keenaghan, N,Reilly, K (2017) 'Mediating representations of poverty and development: a help or a hindrance?'. Third World Quarterly, 38 :1272-1290 [DOI] [Details]
(2016) 'Participative critical enquiry in graduate field-based learning'
Reilly, K,Clavin, A,Morrissey, J (2016) 'Participative critical enquiry in graduate field-based learning'. Journal of Geography in Higher Education, 40 :104-116 [DOI] [Details]
(2014) 'Fringe benefits? Educational experiences of migrant and non-migrant youth in the urban-rural fringe of Galway City, Ireland'
Ledwith, V,Reilly, K (2014) 'Fringe benefits? Educational experiences of migrant and non-migrant youth in the urban-rural fringe of Galway City, Ireland'. Journal Of Rural Studies, 36 :219-225 [DOI] [Details]
(2013) 'Two Tiers Emerging? School Choice and Educational Achievement Disparities among Young Migrants and Non-migrants in Galway City and Urban Fringe'
Ledwith, V;Reilly, K (2013) 'Two Tiers Emerging? School Choice and Educational Achievement Disparities among Young Migrants and Non-migrants in Galway City and Urban Fringe'. Population, Space And Place, 19 :46-59 [DOI] [Details]
(2013) 'Accommodating all applicants? School choice and the regulation of enrolment in Ireland'
Ledwith, V;Reilly, K (2013) 'Accommodating all applicants? School choice and the regulation of enrolment in Ireland'. Canadian Geographer-Geographe Canadien, 57 :318-326 [DOI] [Details]
(2013) 'Field-Based Learning: The Challenge of Practising Participatory Knowledge'
Morrissey, J., Clavin, A. and Reilly, K. (2013) 'Field-Based Learning: The Challenge of Practising Participatory Knowledge'. Journal of Geography in Higher Education, 37 (4):619-627 [DOI] [Details]
(2013) 'Two Tiers Emerging? School Choice and Educational Achievement Disparities among Young Migrants and Non-migrants in Galway City and Urban Fringe'
Ledwith, V,Reilly, K (2013) 'Two Tiers Emerging? School Choice and Educational Achievement Disparities among Young Migrants and Non-migrants in Galway City and Urban Fringe'. Population Space And Place, 19 :46-59 [DOI] [Details]
(2006) 'Cultural Theory and Educational Practice: A Focus on Bourdieu’s Habitus, Bernstein’s Discourse and the Canvey Island Region, Chimera'
Reilly, K. (2006) 'Cultural Theory and Educational Practice: A Focus on Bourdieu’s Habitus, Bernstein’s Discourse and the Canvey Island Region, Chimera'. 21 [Details]

Book Chapters

  Year Publication
(2025) 'Creating safe spaces for critical and reflexive field-based learning in a pedagogy of care'
Reilly, K. (2025) 'Creating safe spaces for critical and reflexive field-based learning in a pedagogy of care' In: Handbook of Field Research. London: Routledge. [Details]
(2024) 'The Irish 'Down Under': Migration Stories in an Era of Pandemic'
Reilly, K. (2024) 'The Irish 'Down Under': Migration Stories in an Era of Pandemic' In: Stories of the Pandemic: Global Narrative Biographical Perspectives on Lives Lived during Covid-19. London: Palgrave Macmillan. [Details]
(2021) 'Challenges, Opportunities, and Future Directions in Narrative Inquiry'
Moran, L; Reilly, K; Brady, B (2021) 'Challenges, Opportunities, and Future Directions in Narrative Inquiry' In: Narrative Research with Children and Young People: Diverse Contexts, Methods and Stories of Everyday Life. UK: Palgrave. [Details]
(2021) 'Narrating Contemporary Childhood'
Moran, L; Reilly, K; Brady, B (2021) 'Narrating Contemporary Childhood' In: Narrative Resarch with Children and Young People: Diverse Contexts, Methods and Stories of Everyday Life. UK: Palgrave. [Details]
(2021) 'Narrating Childhood: Exploring the Places and Spaces of Everyday Life in Ireland'
Reilly, K; Hughes, TJ (2021) 'Narrating Childhood: Exploring the Places and Spaces of Everyday Life in Ireland' In: Narrative Research with Children and Young People: Diverse Contexts, Methods and Stories of Everyday Life. UK: Palgrave. [Details]
(2020) 'Disrupting Imagined Geographies: Media, Power and Representation in Contemporary Migration'
Browne, R.; Reilly, Kathy (2020) 'Disrupting Imagined Geographies: Media, Power and Representation in Contemporary Migration' In: Haven: Intervening for Human Security in the Mediterranean Crisis. UK: Edward Elgar Publishing. [Details]
(2018) 'Geographies of Education: Context and Case'
Kathy Reilly; Ranu Basu; Valerie Ledwith (2018) 'Geographies of Education: Context and Case' In: Establishing Geographies of Children and Young People. Singapore: Springer. [Details]
(2017) 'Young Migrants' Educational Achievement: Moving to Equality in Galway City, Ireland'
Ledwith, V; Reilly, K (2017) 'Young Migrants' Educational Achievement: Moving to Equality in Galway City, Ireland' In: Movement, Im/Mobilities and Journeys. London: Springer. [Details]

Conference Publications

  Year Publication
(2021) International Geographical Congress Istanbul 2021
Kathy Reilly (2021) The Irish Down Under: Examining Migration Experiences of Young Irish in Australia International Geographical Congress Istanbul 2021 [Details]
(2014) 46th Conference of Irish Geographers (2014)
Farrell, E.J., Lynch, K., Corbett, J., Logan, J., Miller, A., Murphy, M., Fahy, F., Morley, T., and Reilly, K. (2014) A University community knowledge initiative (CKI) to promote civic engagement 46th Conference of Irish Geographers (2014) , pp.1-4 [Details]
(2019) 14th FEANTSA Conference on Homelessness: Homelessness and Housing Exclusion
Reilly, K (2019) People, Policy and Place: Examining Homelessness beyond the Capital in Ireland 14th FEANTSA Conference on Homelessness: Homelessness and Housing Exclusion Lund University, Helsingborg, Sweden, [Details]
(2010) AAG, Washington DC, USA 
Ledwith, V.; Reilly, K (2010) Two-Tiered Schooling? Exploring Migrant Youth School Experiences in Galway AAG, Washington DC, USA  [Details]
(2009) 1st Geographies of Education Conference, Loughborough University, UK
Reilly, K. (2009) ’Going to School: Routine Rhythms and Future Expectations 1st Geographies of Education Conference, Loughborough University, UK [Details]
(2009) AAG, Las Vegas, USA
Reilly, K. (2009) ’The Role of School in Constructing a Rhythm for Everyday Life’ AAG, Las Vegas, USA Las Vegas, USA , [Details]
(2007) Moving Forward Conference, University of Aberdeen, Scotland 
Reilly, K. (2007) Opportune Schooling: Preliminary perspectives on Compulsory Education on Canvey Island, Essex, UK and in Tuam, Co Galway, Ireland Moving Forward Conference, University of Aberdeen, Scotland  Aberdeen, Scotland , [Details]
(2006) ’Bourdieu’s Opportunity: Social Perspectives on Educational Trends’  . Challenging the Boundaries in the Social Sciences, 7th Inter-University Graduate Conference, CRASSH, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
Reilly, K. (2006) ’Bourdieu’s Opportunity: Social Perspectives on Educational Trends’  . Challenging the Boundaries in the Social Sciences, 7th Inter-University Graduate Conference, CRASSH, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom [Details]
(2018) Conference of Irish Geographers
Reilly, Kathy; Brehony, Margaret (2018) Deconstructing Homelessness: People, Policy and Place Conference of Irish Geographers Maynooth University, Ireland, [Details]
(2018) Association of American Geographers Annual Conference
Reilly, Kathy; Brehony, Margaret; Keenaghan, Natasha (2018) Mediating Geographies of Homelessness: Narrating Vulnerability and Invisibility Association of American Geographers Annual Conference New Orleans, USA, [Details]
(2016) 3rd International Irish Narrative Inquiry Conference
Reilly, Kathy (2016) Exploring Childhood in Ireland: Narrating the PLaces and Spaces of Everyday Life 3rd International Irish Narrative Inquiry Conference National University of Ireland Galway, [Details]
(2015) Conference of Irish Geographers
Reilly, Kathy (2015) Childhood Identity in Ireland: Exploring Everyday Discourses Conference of Irish Geographers Queens Univeristy Belfast, [Details]
(2015) RGS-IBG Annual International Conference
Reilly, Kathy (2015) The Politics and Practice of Researching with Young People: Reflecting on Methodological Uncertainty for Critical Geographies of Education in Ireland RGS-IBG Annual International Conference [Details]
(2014) Association of American Geographers Annual Conference
Reilly, Kathy (2014) Migrant Transitions to Tertiary Education: Exploring Contested Discourses of Belonging Association of American Geographers Annual Conference Tampa, Florida, USA, [Details]
(2014) Conference of Irish Geographers (2014), University College Dublin, Ireland
Farrell, E.J., Lynch, K., Corbett, J., Logan, J., Miller, A., Murphy, M., Fahy, F., Morley, T., and Reilly, K. (2014) I Like Beaches: A University community knowledge initiative (CKI) to promote civic engagement Conference of Irish Geographers (2014), University College Dublin, Ireland [Details]

Published Reports

  Year Publication
(2020) West Region Homelessness Action 2020 - 2022.
Reilly, K (2020) West Region Homelessness Action 2020 - 2022. IGalway City Council, Ireland. [Details]
(2019) Social Reform Fund Application for Galway City.
Reilly, K (2019) Social Reform Fund Application for Galway City. Galway City Council, Ireland. [Details]
(2013) Integration and Diversity Strategy for Galway County.
Reilly, K (Education Section) (2013) Integration and Diversity Strategy for Galway County. Galway Rural Development Co, Ireland. [Details]

Edited Books

  Year Publication
(2021) Narrative Research with Children and Young People: Diverse Contexts, Methods and Stories of Everyday Life.
Moran, L; Reilly, K; Brady, B (Ed.). (2021) Narrative Research with Children and Young People: Diverse Contexts, Methods and Stories of Everyday Life Narrative Research with Children and Young People: Diverse Contexts, Methods and Stories of Everyday Life. UK: Palgrave. [Details]

Conference Contributions

  Year Publication
(2024) International Geographical Congress,
Reilly, K. and Skelton, T. (2024) Global Perspectives on Children and Young People. [Co-chaired Session], International Geographical Congress, Dublin, Ireland , 25-AUG-24. [Details]
(2024) Mary Robinson Climate Conference,
Kathy Reilly (2024) 'A Shared Response to a Shared Responsibility'. [Organising Chair], Mary Robinson Climate Conference, Ballina, Co Mayo , 05-JUN-24 - 07-JUN-24. [Details]
(2023) EUGEO,
Reilly, K. and Fahy, F. (2023) Young People and Climate Crises in Four City Regions in Europe: Reflections on Creative and Mixed Methods. [Conference Paper], EUGEO, Barcelona, Spain , 18-SEP-23. [Details]
(2024) World Environmental Education Congress,
Reilly, K. (2024) Learning from Young People: Examining Young Ideas for Climate Change Education in Europe. [Conference Paper], World Environmental Education Congress, Abu Dhabi, UAE , 31-JAN-24. [Details]
(2024) Association of American Geographers Annual Conference,
Reilly, K. and Fahy, F. (2024) Exploring Young People¿s Experiences of Climate Change: Intergenerational Relationships at a Time of Climate Crisis. [Conference Paper], Association of American Geographers Annual Conference, Hawaii, USA , 25-APR-24. [Details]
(2024) International Geographical Congress,
Reilly, K. Fahy, F. and Dillon, B. (2024) Tackling Climate Change: Learning about Intergenerational Influence from the Perspectives of Young People. [Conference Paper], International Geographical Congress, Dublin, Ireland , 25-AUG-24. [Details]
(2019) 7th EUGEO Congress in conjunction with the 51st Conference of Irish Geographers,
Reilly, Kathy; Fahy, Frances (2019) International Conference. [Organising Chair], 7th EUGEO Congress in conjunction with the 51st Conference of Irish Geographers, National University of Ireland Galway , 15-MAY-19 - 18-MAY-19. [Details]
(2018) KEYNOTE ADDRESS: From Immediate Need to Sustainable Solutions: Preventing Homelessness in Galway City,
Reilly, Kathy (2018) Deconstructing Homelessness. [Keynote Address], KEYNOTE ADDRESS: From Immediate Need to Sustainable Solutions: Preventing Homelessness in Galway City, Galway City , 26-FEB-18. [Details]
(2018) KEYNOTE ADDRESS: Finding Your Way to Education,
Reilly, Kathy (2018) Migrant Educational Experiences: Challenging Access Inequalities in the Transition to Higher Education. [Keynote Address], KEYNOTE ADDRESS: Finding Your Way to Education, GMIT (Castlebar Campus) , 23-FEB-18. [Details]
(2016) 3rd International Irish Narrative Inquiry Conference,
Reilly, Kathy (2016) March 2016. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], 3rd International Irish Narrative Inquiry Conference, National University of ireland Galway , 16-MAR-16 - 18-MAR-16. [Details]

Conference Paper

  Year Publication
(2012) Field-Based Learning: Enhancing Student Learning through Community Engagement in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina. RGS-IBG Annual Conference, Edinburgh.
Reilly, K., Clavin, A. and Morrissey, J. (2012) Field-Based Learning: Enhancing Student Learning through Community Engagement in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina. RGS-IBG Annual Conference, Edinburgh. Conference Paper [Details]
(2008) ’Education isn’t just about the classroom’. Everyday Perceptions of the Second Level Schooling Experience.
Reilly, K. (2008) ’Education isn’t just about the classroom’. Everyday Perceptions of the Second Level Schooling Experience. Conference Paper [Details]
(2007) ’Regional Schooling: Perceptions of Compulsory Education on Canvey Island’. Conference of Irish Geographers, St Patrick’s College Drumcondra, Dublin.
Reilly, K. (2007) ’Regional Schooling: Perceptions of Compulsory Education on Canvey Island’. Conference of Irish Geographers, St Patrick’s College Drumcondra, Dublin. Dublin: Conference Paper [Details]

Invited papers

  Year Publication
(2009) Spaces and Places of Childhood: A Geographical Perspective Seminar Presented to: Child and Family Research Centre, School of Political Science and Sociology, National University of Ireland, Galway.
Reilly, K. (2009) Spaces and Places of Childhood: A Geographical Perspective Seminar Presented to: Child and Family Research Centre, School of Political Science and Sociology, National University of Ireland, Galway. Invited papers [Details]

Workshops

  Year Publication
(2007) ’Education is where my intelligence comes from: Perceptions of the School Experience from Tuam and Canvey Island’. Department of Geography Seminar Series, National University of Ireland Galway.
Reilly, K. (2007) ’Education is where my intelligence comes from: Perceptions of the School Experience from Tuam and Canvey Island’. Department of Geography Seminar Series, National University of Ireland Galway. Workshops [Details]

Honours and Awards

  Year Title Awarding Body
2024 ENLIGHT Impact Award ENLIGHT European University's Network
2023 Inaugural Fáilte Ireland Spotlight on Sustainability Fáilte Ireland
2023 Fáilte Ireland Conference Ambassador Fáilte Ireland
2021 Teaching Hero Award National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Ireland
2019 College of Arts Dean's Award College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies, University of Galway
2018 College of Arts Research Award College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies, NUIG
2017 Deconstructing Homelessness: Finding a Place for Geography? Irish Research Council Policy and Society Award
2016 NUI Galway Millennium Fund College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Celtic Studies, NUI Galway
2016 NUI Galway Millennium Fund College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Celtic Studies
2015 Geography Research Incentivisation Award Geography, National University of Ireland Galway
2014 YOLO EXPLORE PROJECT National University of Ireland Galway
2013 Dobbin Scholarship Ireland Canada University Award
2013 Galway Rural Development Company Project Grant Galway Rural Development
2012 Internship Funding National University of Ireland Galway
2011 Research Innovation Award: Children's Geographies Project St. Patrick's College Research Committee
2011 Comenius Teaching and Learning Grant Comenius (Eurogeography Grant)
2011 Teaching and Learning Innovation Award CELT: Community Knowledge Initiative (NUI Galway)

Professional Associations

  Association Function From / To
National Forum for the Enhancemment of Teaching and Learning University Representative 09-JAN-17 / 14-JAN-19
EUGEO Executive Committee 09-SEP-16 /
Geography Society NUI Galway Member /
Geographic Society of Ireland GSI Committee Member /
Association of American Geographers Member /

Committees

  Committee Function From / To
Narrative Enquiry Conference 2016 Committee member 01-SEP-15 /
Geographical Society of Ireland Committee member 01-JUN-15 /
Geopolitics and Justice Cluster Committee Member 09-JAN-12 /

Employment

  Employer Position From / To
National University of Ireland Galway Lecturer (Human Geography) 02-JUN-14 /
National University of Ireland Galway University Fellow (Research and Teaching) 02-JAN-12 / 01-JUN-14
York University, Toronto Visiting Scholar (Geography) 03-MAR-14 / 30-MAR-14
St Patrick's College, Drumcandra Teaching Fellow (Geography) 01-SEP-10 / 31-JUL-11

Education

  Year Institution Qualification Subject
2009 National University of Ireland Galway PhD Human Geography
2004 National University of Ireland Galway Higher Diploma Education
2003 National University of Ireland Galway Bachelor of Arts Geography and English

Community Engagement

  Title Type From / To
Board Membership Focus Ireland 01-SEP-19 /
Outreach Intercultural Forum Galway 05-JAN-14 /
Consultancy (Pro-bono) I Like Beaches 09-OCT-15 /
Policy Development Galway County Integration and Diversity Strategy (2013 - 2017) 01-DEC-12 /
Advocacy NUI Galway Migrant Forum 06-JAN-14 /

Teaching Interests

Dr Reilly returns to teaching from January 2025. She was on research leave  from September 2023 - August 2024 and is leading the School's Athena Swan application from September 2024 - December 2024.

Teaching interests include:
Postgraduate Teaching:
TI6146: Children, Young People and Families: Geographic and Social Science Perspectives

Undergraduate Teaching:
Individual Module Delivery
TI229 Political and Cultural Geography
TI317 Critical Geographies of Children, Young People and Families
TI3110 Research Seminar in Political and Cultural Geography
TI3100 Research Seminar in Geographies of Children, Young People and Families

Team Taught Contributions
TI251 Theory and Practice 1
TI252 Theory and Practice 2
TI335 Research Project Design and Development

Teaching outside the Discipline:
I contribute to a number of interdisciplinary modules at undergraduate and graduate levels that focus on children and young people. 

Recent Postgraduate Students

  Graduation Name Degree Primary Supervisor
2024 Rizky Aji Pratama MASTERS DEGREE (LEVEL 9) Y
2024 Karli Conger MASTERS DEGREE (LEVEL 9) Y
2023 Evench Catherine Gomes MASTERS DEGREE (LEVEL 9) Y
2016 V'cenza Cirefice MASTERS DEGREE (LEVEL 9) Y
2016 Ryan Brown MASTERS DEGREE (LEVEL 9) Y
2015 Rosie Howlett-Southgate MASTERS DEGREE (LEVEL 9) Y
2014 Julie Kennedy MASTERS DEGREE (LEVEL 9) Y
2014 Lawrence Nea MASTERS DEGREE (LEVEL 9) Y
2013 Natasha Keenaghan MASTERS DEGREE (LEVEL 9) Y
2013 Donal Fenton MASTERS DEGREE (LEVEL 9) Y
2012 Cathy Byrne  (MA Environment, Society & Development 2011 - 12) MASTERS DEGREE (LEVEL 9) Y
2012 Caroline Doyle  (MA Environment, Society & Development 2011 - 12) MASTERS DEGREE (LEVEL 9) Y
2011 Ronan O Halloran (MA Environment, Society & Development 2010 - 11) MASTERS DEGREE (LEVEL 9) Y

Current Postgraduate Students (Research)

  Student Degree Type Type
Axel Leahy Doctorate - Structured Ph.D. in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Co-supervisor (1)
V`Cenza Cirefice Doctorate - Structured Ph.D. in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Supervisor

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