DkIT researcher Dianne McPhelim has been awarded a prestigious Government of Ireland Postgraduate Research Scholarship through Taighde Éireann– Research Ireland for her project engaging with the writings of Monaghan woman Mamo McDonald, an important female figure in the latter half of the twentieth century in Ireland.

The study will focus on one of Ireland's forgotten female voices, one whose influence and activism were lauded by Mary Robinson and Nell McCaffrey. Mamo McDonald, a key figure in bringing the voice of the rural community to the fore, was a prominent campaigner for women’s rights in law and health, a champion of higher education, ICA President, and later founder of Age Action. 

Supervised by Dr Daithí Kearney, Co-Director of the Creative Arts Research Centre at Dundalk Institute of Technology and Dr Naoise Collins, lecturer in Game Design at IADT, this research aims to enhance engagement with tangible heritage and offer insights into ‘hidden literature’ to inform our understanding of society and the lived experience of citizens. The project will catalogue and contextualise the writings of McDonald: digitise artefacts to create an archive with metadata, and propose and design ways of accessing and engaging with the archive.

Having recently graduated from Mary Immaculate College Limerick with an MA in Modern Literature, Dianne holds a degree in Writing & Literature from ATU Sligo and is a published writer. She has extensive experience in the Heritage, Tourism and Community Development sectors.  

Speaking about her role and the award, Dianne commented:

As a creative writer with strong administration and project management experience in the heritage sector and knowledge of the demographic region, I hope to bring a unique perspective to this project. My work in rural development and heritage in the border region has equipped me with empathy and an interest in the forgotten and the untold.

The three-year scholarship will allow Dianne to develop this project, which has substantial local significance, and explore options to draw attention to this remarkable figure.

Dianne will contribute to a vibrant research community at DkIT, where the Creative Arts Research Centre unites researchers from music and media to foster synergies between the arts, humanities, and innovative technologies. The Centre is dedicated to enhancing its cultural impact, attracting funding, and making research accessible to the community.

For more information on research and postgraduate opportunities in the centre contact carc@dkit.ie