DkIT researcher presents at IASIL 2025
The International Association for the Study of Irish Literatures (IASIL) conference took place in July, hosted by the University of Galway. Presenting was DkIT researcher Dianne McPhelim, whose current research investigates the historical diaries of activist Mamo McDonald.
Under the conference theme Technology and Ireland, Dianne presented her paper ‘Written Once: The Permanence of the Handwritten Diary in an Edited World’, highlighting society’s preoccupation with publicly recording life’s happenings to create highly edited ‘digital diaries’. Noting the usefulness of the diary as a lens through which to trace not only the transformation of life from a sociological or historical viewpoint but also the result on the psyche of such writing. Drawing attention to the richness of material matter the tangible diary possesses, Dianne raised concerns regarding the ‘forgotten histories’ of ordinary people, positing the importance of the physical diary in an edited world in future research. Reflecting on the experience, it was the originality and variation of projects presented that were the most enjoyable aspects.
‘The depth of discussion, range of topics and level of dedication by all scholars prove the importance of Irish culture both here and on an international stage,’ she observed.
Dianne is a recipient of a Government of Ireland Scholarship (IRC), is part of the Creative Arts Research Centre based in DkIT, and under the supervision of Dr. Daithí Kearney (DkIT) and Dr. Naoise Collins (IADT).