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Geography, Archaeology & Irish Studies

Dr Méabh Ní Fhuartháin

B.A., BMus., MA.,PhD

 
researcher
 

Biography

Dr Méabh Ní Fhuartháin is Head of Irish Studies at the Centre for Irish Studies, University of Galway, specializing in Irish Music and Dance Studies and is Director of Undergraduate Programmes in Irish Studies.  Méabh has contributed articles and reviews to a variety of journals such as Ethnomusicology, Journal of Music in Ireland, Journal of the Society of Musicology in Ireland and New York Irish History Roundtable and was also Popular Music subject editor of the landmark Encyclopaedia of Music in Ireland (UCD Press, 2012). Most recently, she co-edited a special issue of Éire-Ireland: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Irish Studies, titled 'Nótaí/Notes: Music and Ireland' (2019) and the special issue 'Women and traditional/folk music' Ethnomusicology Ireland (March, 2021). Méabh is particularly interested in the institutionalization of musical revival in Ireland during the twentieth century, and popular music studies.  Recent published articles include work on the commemorative representations of Ireland through music; pop music and emigration; masculinities and Irish popular music; dance genealogies in Galway and institutionalisation of traditional music and dance in Ireland. Méabh welcomes expressions of interest in these and related areas of research for doctoral and post-doctoral projects. 

Research Interests

  • I research, present and publish work these areas of interest: emigration and Irish music; popular music and Ireland; cultural revivalism; performance studies; gender and music in Ireland; and Irish music practice.  

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2021) 'Editors' Preface: women and traditional | folk music'
Méabh Ní Fhuartháin and Verena Commins (2021) 'Editors' Preface: women and traditional | folk music'. Ethnomusicology Ireland, 7 [Details]
(2021) 'Women and Traditional/Folk Music: Building a field'
Ní Fhuartháin, Méabh (2021) 'Women and Traditional/Folk Music: Building a field'. Ethnomusicology Ireland, 7 [Details]
(2019) 'Nótaí/Notes: Music and Ireland'
Ní Fhuartháin, Méabh; Commins, Verena, special issue editors (2019) 'Nótaí/Notes: Music and Ireland'. Éire-Ireland, 54 (1 & 2) [Details]
(2019) ''Parish Halls, Dance Halls and Marquees: Developing and regulating social dance spaces, 1900-1960''
Ní Fhuartháin, Méabh (2019) ''Parish Halls, Dance Halls and Marquees: Developing and regulating social dance spaces, 1900-1960''. Éire-Ireland, [Details]
(2019) 'Nótaí/Notes: Music and Ireland: Introduction'
Commins, Verena, Ní Fhuartháin, Méabh; (2019) 'Nótaí/Notes: Music and Ireland: Introduction'. Éire-Ireland, :10-16 [Details]

Books

  Year Publication
(2024) Heading to the Fleadh: Festival, Cultural Revival and Irish Traditional Music, 1951¿1969.
Méabh Ní Fhuartháin (2024) Heading to the Fleadh: Festival, Cultural Revival and Irish Traditional Music, 1951¿1969. Cork: Cork University Press. [Details]

Book Chapters

  Year Publication
(2024) '¿`Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral¿: Musical priests on screen and Irish-American identity'
Méabh Ní Fhuartháin (2024) '¿`Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral¿: Musical priests on screen and Irish-American identity' In: Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin: A Life in Music. Cork: Cork University Press. [Details]
(2024) 'Irish Music in America'
Méabh Ní Fhuartháin (2024) 'Irish Music in America' In: Routledge History of Irish America. New York: Routledge. [Details]
(2022) 'Ageing Masculinities in Irish Life and Culture'
Méabh Ní Fhuartháin, co-author (2022) 'Ageing Masculinities in Irish Life and Culture' In: Ageing masculinities and Irish traditional music on screen. UK: Routledge. [Details]
(2023) 'Genealogies of Irish dance in Galway, 1922-1992'
Ní Fhuartháin, Méabh (2023) 'Genealogies of Irish dance in Galway, 1922-1992' In: Hardiman and After: Galway Culture and Society, 1820-2020. Australia: Arcadia. [Details]
(2020) '‘“Mise Éire”: (Re)imaginings in Irish Music Studies'
Ní Fhuartháin, Méabh (2020) '‘“Mise Éire”: (Re)imaginings in Irish Music Studies' In: Routledge International Handbook of Irish Studies. London: Routledge. [Details]
(2018) '“In the mood for dancing”: Emigrant, pop and female’'
Méabh Ní Fhuartháin (2018) '“In the mood for dancing”: Emigrant, pop and female’' In: Music Preferred: Essays in Musicology, Cultural History and Analysis in honour of Harry White. Vienna: Hollitzer Verlag. [Details]
(2015) '‘“Irish Music in Irish Life”: Articulating a Vision of Revival’'
Ní Fhuartháin, Méabh (2015) '‘“Irish Music in Irish Life”: Articulating a Vision of Revival’' In: Culture and Society in Ireland since 1750, Essays in Honour of Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh. Dublin: Lilliput. [Details]
(2013) 'Introduction'
Ní Fhuartháin, Méabh; Doyle, David (2013) 'Introduction' In: Ordinary Life and Popular Culture in Ireland. Dublin: IAP. [Details]
(2013) ''Oh Me, Oh My': Reviving Joe Dolan and Gendering Performance’'
Ní Fhuartháin, Méabh (2013) ''Oh Me, Oh My': Reviving Joe Dolan and Gendering Performance’' In: Masculinity and Irish Popular Culture: Tigers Tales. Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan. [Details]

Edited Books

  Year Publication
(2013) Ordinary Irish Life: Music, Sport and Culture.
Ní Fhuartháin, Méabh; Doyle, David (Ed.). (2013) Ordinary Irish Life: Music, Sport and Culture Ordinary Irish Life: Music, Sport and Culture. Dublin: Irish Academic Press. [Details]
(2013) Encyclopedia of Music in Ireland.
Harry White et al (Méabh Ní Fhuartháin, subject editor) (Ed.). (2013) Encyclopedia of Music in Ireland Encyclopedia of Music in Ireland. Dubln: UCD Press. [Details]

Conference Contributions

  Year Publication
(2018) Rural Ireland: Ideas and Realities in the Twentieth Century,
Méabh Ní Fhuartháin (2018) Parish halls and dance halls, transnational and social: Built spaces in the Irish landscape, 1910-1960. [Oral Presentation], Rural Ireland: Ideas and Realities in the Twentieth Century, NUI Galway , 07-JUN-18 - 08-JUN-18. [Details]
(2018) ACIS,
Méabh Ní Fhuartháin (2018) The Musical (Singing) Priest: Essentialising Irish-America in Film. [Oral Presentation], ACIS, UCC , 19-JUN-18 - 22-JUN-18. [Details]
(2017) ICTM International,
Méabh Ní Fhuartháin (2017) Mise Éire: (Re)Imaginings and identity. [Conference Paper], ICTM International, UL , 17-JUL-17 - 17-JUL-17. [Details]
(2017) Chronicles of Comhaltas: Narrating and institutionalising authority in Irish traditional music, 1951-1970,
Méabh Ní Fhuartháin (2017) Ó Riada Memorial Lecture 2017. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Chronicles of Comhaltas: Narrating and institutionalising authority in Irish traditional music, 1951-1970, UCC , 01-FEB-17 - 01-FEB-17. [Details]
(2015) Sonny Murray Memorial Lecture,
Ní Fhuartháin, Méabh (2015) Title: ‘The Fleadh down in Ennis: Narrating the Fleadh Experience’. [Invited Lecture], Sonny Murray Memorial Lecture, Co.Clare , 10-APR-15 - 10-APR-15. [Details]
(2015) A Peculiar Society: Ireland 1970s-1990s,
Ní Fhuartháin, Méabh (2015) Title: ‘Lisdoonvarna: A model of festivity for a peculiar society’. [Conference Paper], A Peculiar Society: Ireland 1970s-1990s, NUI Galway , 24-APR-15 - 25-APR-15. [Details]
(2014) Anthropology Seminar Series, Queen’s University Belfast,
Ní Fhuartháin, Méabh (2014) Title: 'Emigrant, Female and Popular: Delimiting Categories in Irish Music discourse'. [Invited Lecture], Anthropology Seminar Series, Queen’s University Belfast, Queen's University, Belfast , 06-MAY-14 - 06-MAY-14. [Details]
(2014) Logos Seminar Series,
Ní Fhuartháin, Méabh (2014) TItle: 'In Fleadh Time: Festival, Festivity and Narration’. [Invited Lecture], Logos Seminar Series, University of Limerick , 25-SEP-14 - 25-SEP-14. [Details]
(2014) Tower Seminar Series,
Ní Fhuartháín, Méabh; Dillane, Aileen (UL) (2014) Title: ‘Keep it Country: Country Music and the Twentieth Century (Perspectives from Ireland and Australia)’. [Invited Lecture], Tower Seminar Series, University of Limerick , 24-SEP-14 - 24-SEP-14. [Details]
(2014) TCD Irish Studies Summer School,
Ní Fhuartháin, Méabh (2014) Title: ‘The Global Emerald: Popular and Rock music in 21st century Ireland’. [Invited Lecture], TCD Irish Studies Summer School, Trinity College Dublin , 23-JUL-14 - 23-JUL-14. [Details]
(2014) Music, Place and the Community,
Ní Fhuartháin, Méabh (2014) ICTM Ireland, National Conference. [Conference Organising Committee Member], Music, Place and the Community, NUI Galway , 21-FEB-14 - 23-FEB-14. [Details]
(2013) American Conference for Irish Studies,
Méabh Ní Fhuartháin (2013) ‘’In the mood for dancing’: The emigrant Irish female and popular music’. [Chaired Session], American Conference for Irish Studies, Chicago , 10-APR-13 - 13-APR-13. [Details]
(2013) Guest lecture,
Méabh Ní Fhuartháin (2013) The Gaelic League: Dancing the nation, 1893-1940. [Invited Lecture], Guest lecture, Charles University , 07-NOV-13 - 07-NOV-13. [Details]
(2012) Waterford County Museum Winter Lecture Series,
Méabh Ní Fhuartháin (2012) ‘Dr Richard Henebry: musical priest and Déiseach’,. [Chaired Session], Waterford County Museum Winter Lecture Series, Waterford , 18-JAN-12 - 18-JAN-12. [Details]
(2012) Transcultural Identities Seminar,
Méabh Ní Fhuartháin (2012) ‘In Fleadh time: Festivity and symbolic composition in Ireland of the 1950s’. [Invited Lecture], Transcultural Identities Seminar, Dalarna University, Sweden , 21-NOV-12 - 12-NOV-12. [Details]
(2012) Scoil Éigse,
Méabh Ní Fhuartháin (2012) ‘The Flop-Ceoil: Dungarvan and festival expectations, 1957’,. [Invited Lecture], Scoil Éigse, Waterford , 21-JUL-12 - 21-JUL-12. [Details]
(2012) American Conference for Irish Studies,
Méabh Ní Fhuartháin (2012) ‘Complicating music genres: Count John McCormack, the Clancy Brothers and inventing the popular’. [Chaired Session], American Conference for Irish Studies, New Orleans , 14-MAR-12 - 17-MAR-12. [Details]
(2011) EFACIS Irish Studies Graduate Seminar,
Méabh Ní Fhuartháin (2011) Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Ēireann: Tradition and Identity, 1951-1972’. [Chaired Session], EFACIS Irish Studies Graduate Seminar, KU Leuven , 06-SEP-11 - 08-SEP-11. [Details]
(2011) Ireland, Masculinity, And Popular Culture, 1990 -2010: A Multidisciplinary Conference,
Méabh Ní Fhuartháin (2011) Oh Me, Oh My: Reviving Joe Dolan. [Chaired Session], Ireland, Masculinity, And Popular Culture, 1990 -2010: A Multidisciplinary Conference, NUI Galway , 14-OCT-11 - 15-OCT-11. [Details]

Encyclopedia Entry

  Year Publication
(2024) Irish country music and traditional music: influences.
Méabh Ní Fhuartháin (2024) Irish country music and traditional music: influences. Cork University Press Encyclopedia Entry [Details]
(2013) ‘Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem’, ‘Liam Clancy’, ‘Comhaltas Ceoltoirí Éireann’, ‘Copley Records’, ‘Fleadh Cheoil’, ‘Earl Gill’, ‘Ray Lynam’, ‘Daniel O’Donnell’, ‘Joe Dolan’, ‘Gerry Smith’, ‘Hot House Flowers’, ‘IMRO’, ‘Seán Ó Sé’, ‘Johnny Duhan’, ‘Johnny McEvoy’, ‘Christy Moore’, ‘Ruby Murray’, ‘Dermot O’Brien’ and ‘Brendan Shine’.
Méabh Ní Fhuartháin (2013) ‘Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem’, ‘Liam Clancy’, ‘Comhaltas Ceoltoirí Éireann’, ‘Copley Records’, ‘Fleadh Cheoil’, ‘Earl Gill’, ‘Ray Lynam’, ‘Daniel O’Donnell’, ‘Joe Dolan’, ‘Gerry Smith’, ‘Hot House Flowers’, ‘IMRO’, ‘Seán Ó Sé’, ‘Johnny Duhan’, ‘Johnny McEvoy’, ‘Christy Moore’, ‘Ruby Murray’, ‘Dermot O’Brien’ and ‘Brendan Shine’. Encyclopedia Entry [Details]

Online Multimedia

  Year Publication
(2014) 'The Henebry-O’Neill Wax Cylinder Collection’.
Ní Fhuartháín, Méabh (2014) 'The Henebry-O’Neill Wax Cylinder Collection’. Hosted by UCC Online Multimedia [Details]

Pamphlet

  Year Publication
(2018) • Chronicles of Comhaltas: Narrating Authority in Irish Traditional Music, 1951-1971.
Méabh Ní Fhuartháin (2018) • Chronicles of Comhaltas: Narrating Authority in Irish Traditional Music, 1951-1971. Cork: UCC Traditional Music Archive Pamphlet [Details]

Honours and Awards

  Year Title Awarding Body
2009 Graduate Fellowship in Irish Studies, NUI Galway NUI Galway
2006 Government of Ireland Graduate scholarship IRCHSS
2006 Erasmus Teaching Staff Scholar Exchange Erasmus

Professional Associations

  Association Function From / To
ICTM Member /
ACIS member /
British Forum for Ethnomusicology Member /
Society for Musicology in Ireland Member /
EFACIS, European Federation for Irish Studies Member /

Teaching Interests

Below are some of the modules I currently deliver at NUIG.  Previous teaching includes modules in ethnomusicology, performance theory, popular music and a wide range of Irish music and dance related courses.

  • IS1103 An introduction to Irish music and dance from 1893 
  • IS1100 Emigration and Irish music
  • IS2105 Popular musics, cultural identities and Ireland
  • IR1105/6 Imagining modern Ireland (co-taught interdisciplinary module)
  • IS2100 Music, gender and Ireland
  • IS3101 Topics in Irish Music Studies
  • IS3103 Independent research project in Irish Studies
  • EN1101 Literature in the social world (Contributing lecturer)