Gaois

Gaois research projects team

Some of the Gaois team, May 2023. From left to right: Úna Bhreathnach, Louis Cullen, Mícheál Ó Meachair, Brian Ó Raghallaigh, Daniel Burke, Gearóid Ó Cleircín, Kate Murphy, Alma Ní Bhroin, Ciarán Mac an Bhaird, Kate Ní Ghallchóir, Davis Sandefur, Jeaic Mag Fhinn, Orla Clavin, Liam D'Arcy, Abaigéal Ní Dhroma, Tara Nic Cana, Molly McKenna, Ruadhán Keogh Daly.

Dr Ciarán Mac an Bhaird (Head of School): Ciarán Mac an Bhaird has spent more than two decades working in third level education though the medium of Gaeilge. During that time, he has developed, designed, managed and taught on undergraduate and postgraduate programmes through the medium of Gaeilge, including the BSc in Finance, Computing, & Enterprise; BA Business & Irish; BA Irish and Journalism; and the MSc in Management and Digital Business. He is a member of the Líonra Saineolaithe Náisiúnta.

Tara Nic Cana (Research projects administrator) has a degree in Irish and Human Development from Dublin City University, and an M.A in Scríobh agus Cumarsáid na Gaeilge from University College Dublin. She has also completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Translation with Coláiste na hÉireann, Gaelchultúr.

Prof. Ciarán Mac Murchaidh is a graduate of Maynooth University (BA, MA, PhD, HDipEd) and the Pontifical University, Maynooth (BD, DLT). He has taught in the Departments of Modern Irish at NUI Maynooth and St Patrick's College Drumcondra, where he was also Dean of Research & Humanities from 2010-2013. He is PrincipaI Investigator on the Ainm project and is currently Joint Editor of the academic journal, Studia Hibernica, as well as Irish-language Editor of Eighteenth-Century Ireland/Iris an dá Chultúr.

Dr Úna Bhreathnach (Editorial manager) has degrees in Italian and philosophy from NUI Galway, and in European Studies from UCD. Her PhD, from Fiontar, DCU, focused on best practice in term planning. Principal Investigator (PI) on the Dúchas and National Corpus of Irish projects. Co-author of Terminology for the European Union. The Irish Experience: The GA IATE Project (Cló Iar-Chonnacht, 2013). A member of the Placenames Committee. She is vice-president of the European Association for Terminology (EAFT).

Dr Gearóid Ó Cleircín (Quality manager) has a B.A. in Irish and anthropology as well as a PhD in Modern Irish from Maynooth University. He is the Principal Investigator (PI) on two externally funded terminology research projects, Téarma and LEX. His research interests include terminology, folkloristics and various aspects of the digital humanities. He is a member of the Terminology Committee.

Dr Brian Ó Raghallaigh (Technology manager) has a primary degree in computational linguistics and a doctorate degree in linguistics (speech technology). He is responsible for fuaimeanna.ie and Fuaimeanna na Gaeilge (Cois Life). Principal Investigator (PI) on the Logainm and Decoding Hidden Heritages projects and a member of both the editorial and management committees of the Historical Dictionary of Irish (RIA). Interested in language technology and Python programming.

Jamie Murphy (Postdoctoral researcher) has a degree in Irish and French from University College Cork as well as an M.A. in Translation Studies from Dublin City University. He completed his M.A. thesis on translation theory in Children’s Literature. As well as this, he spent some time working in the Irish translation unit in the European Parliament in Luxembourg. He is interested in Irish drama, terminology and translation in general. He is currently pursuing a PhD in the area of translation theory and Irish translated drama from the 20th and 21st century.

Dr Mícheál J. Ó Meachair (Postdoctoral researcher) has a degree in Modern Irish and History of Art, and an M.A. i Scríobh agus Cumarsáid na Gaeilge from University College Dublin. He received his doctoral degree in the field of corpus linguistics from Trinity College, Dublin. This doctoral research focussed on compiling a corpus of educational materials (EduGA) and analysing the complexity of the language therein. He is a programmer and localizer, and he is one of the co-founders of an Ríomhacadamh. His primary research interests are corpus linguistics and language technologies, and he is a member of the DCU NLP Research Group.

Dr Andrea Palandri (Postdoctoral researcher) has an undergraduate degree from ASNC in the University of Cambridge and was awarded his PhD from the Department of Modern Irish, UCC in 2018 for his thesis on the Irish translation of Marco Polo’s Travels, from the fifteenth century. He spent three years working as an O’Donovan Scholar in the School of Celtic Studies in DIAS after receiving his PhD. He is especially interested in Early Modern Irish prose, in the Modern Irish dialects and in managing language corpora.

Jeaic Mag Fhinn (Postdoctoral researcher) has an undergraduate degree in Irish Language & Literature and in Mathematics from the University of Notre Dame and an M.A. in Modern Irish from NUI Galway. His M.A. thesis was on hero tales collected in the Schools' Collection and gender.

Alma Ní Bhroin (Postdoctoral researcher) has a B.A. (International) in Modern Irish and German from Maynooth University and a Dioplóma Iarchéime san Oideachas from NUI Galway. She is currently finishing an MLitt in Modern Irish in Maynooth University. This research involves editing a collection of folklore stories that were collected in Árainn at the beginning of the twentieth century. Her research interests include dialectology, folklore and sociolinguistics.

Diarmaid Ó Maoileoin (Postdoctoral researcher) has an undergraduate degree in Irish and English, an M.A. in Modern Irish and a Professional Diploma in Education from the University of Galway. He also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Irish and Translation from the Atlantic Technological University. He has experience working in third level education along with working on digital archive projects in TG4. Interested in placenames research, Irish language education and folkloristics.

Kate Ní Ghallchóir (Research assistant) has a degree in Business and Irish and has recently completed an M.A. in Translation Studies in Dublin City University.

Davis Sandefur (Research assistant) has a B.S. in Physics with a minor in Irish Language and Literature from the University of Notre Dame. He has a Masters of Arts in Teaching from the University of the Cumberlands in America and a Masters of Science in Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics from University College Dublin. He also holds a Diploma sa Chultúr Dúchais from the University of Galway.

Liam D'Arcy (Research assistant) has a B.A. in Modern Irish and Film Studies from University College Dublin. They have also received an M.A. in Scríobh agus Cumarsáid na Gaeilge from the same university. They worked as a tutor while studying for their M.A., and now work with Gaois as a research assistant.

Daniel Burke (Research assistant) has a B.A. in Irish and Translation Studies from University of Galway and has spent time working in the Publications Office in Luxembourg as an editor where he worked on legislation and general publications for citizens of the EU.

Kate Murphy (Research assistant) has a degree in primary education from Mary Immaculate College, Limerick. As part of her degree, Kate specialised in teaching and learning in Irish immersive environments. She has a particular interest in content and language integrated learning in Irish language education.

Orlaith Hickey (PhD student) is undertaking research based on the documentation of women in the biographical database ainm.ie. This research aims to fill some of the gaps caused by the under-representation in the ainm.ie database. Reasons for this lack of representation will be examined, and through adding new material to the collection its function as a trusted reference resource for researchers will be enhanced. New biographies drafted as part of this research will be published on ainm.ie. This PhD is being supervised by Dr Úna Bhreathnach and Dr Pádraig Ó Liatháin.

Aindí Mac Giolla Chomhghaill (PhD student) has a B.A. in Modern Irish and Early Irish from University College Dublin. He has been working in An Brainse Logainmneacha/The Placenames Branch in the Department of the Gaeltacht since 2005. His research is on minor placenames of Irish-language origin in the glens of south County Dublin.

Michal Boleslav Měchura (Technical consultant) is a software engineer who specializes in language technology and digital humanities. He has a master’s degree in computational linguistics from Trinity College Dublin and has previously worked as a software localization engineer for Microsoft. He is currently doing a PhD in e-lexicography at Masaryk University.

Ronan Doherty (Technical consultant) is design and software consultant with experience in digital humanities, research technology and multimedia publishing projects. He has been working with the Gaois research group since 2013. Technical architect of several other Irish-language projects such as COMHARTaighde and Portráidí na Scríbhneoirí Gaeilge.

Sound recordings (Logainm project)

  • Micheál Holmes, Co. Dublin
  • Liam Mac Con Iomaire, Co. Galway
  • Fiachra Mac Gabhann, Co. Louth
  • Seosamh Mac Muirí, Co. Leitrim
  • Póilín Ní Chiaráin, Co. Mayo
  • Neasa Ní Chinnéide, Co. Kerry
  • Mathúin Ó Caoimh, Co. Tipperary
  • Pádraig Ó Cearbhaill, Co. Limerick
  • Joe Ó Domhnaill, Co. Donegal
  • Áine Uí Fhoghlú, Co. Waterford
  • Micheál Ó Diarmada, Co. Kilkenny
  • Pádraic Mac Craith, Co. Meath
  • Éamon de Builtéar, Co. Wicklow
  • Áine Uí Chuill, Co. Cork
  • Kevin Murray, Co. Roscommon
  • Canon Séamas de Vál, Co. Wexford
  • PJ Mac Gabhann, Co. Monaghan
  • Úna Uí Rócháin, Co. Clare
  • Mícheál Ó Mainnín, Co. Sligo
  • Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, Co. Carlow
  • Liam Ó Maidín, Co. Longford
  • Aengus Finnegan, Co. Westmeath
  • Fidelma Ní Ghallchobhair, Co. Kildare
  • Adrian Ó Brádaigh, Co. Offaly
  • Caoimhín Ó Néill, Co. Laois
  • Rióna Ní Fhrighil, Co. Cavan
  • Tomás Ó Máille, Co. Mayo (placenames of Dúiche Sheoigheach)
  • Robbie Hannan, Co. Down
  • Pat McKay, Co. Antrim
  • Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin, Co. Armagh

Educational Resources Consultants (Logainm project)

  • Clíodhna Ní Bhriain (primary level)
  • Fiachra Mac Gabhann (third level)

In addition to the above, the following people worked on the projects over the years since 2005: Fionn Ó hEithir, Tomás Ó Maolalaidh, Brenda Nic Giolla Mhichíl, Éadaoin Nic an Phríora, Clíona Ní Lachtáin, Sinéad Ní Chrualaoi, Sandra Ní Mhaoláin, Daithí Mac Lochlainn, Máirtín Mac Aodh, Louise Smith, Ania Paluch, Donla uí Bhraonáin, Adrian Ó Brádaigh, Caitríona Ní Mháille, Cáit Nic Fhionnlaoich, Michelle Ryan, Oisín Ó Doinn, Ciara Ní Riain, Micheál Ó Maolrúnaigh, Eibhlín Nic Gearailt, Máirín Nic Giolla Chumhaill, Cara Spillane, Ciarán Mac Raghnaill, Ruth Ní Shiadhail, Colm Ó Ciardubháin, Eileen Lynch, Róisín Mulford, Maura Ní Lionscaigh, Rory O'Connor, Fiona Nic Fhinn, Aoileann Ní Riain, Éadaoin Ní Chróinín, Ciara Ní Chuilinn, Doireann McCombe, Stiofán Mac Conmara, Sorcha Ní Mhurchú, Ciara Ní Dhrisceoil, Edel Ní Mhuirthile, Caoimhín Mac Giolla Easpaig, Ian Malcolm, Rúadhán Ó Deasmhúnaigh, Gearóidín Nic Fhiobhuí, Audrey Ní Loingsigh, Pól de Barra, Amanda Ní Dhufaigh, Ciara Ní Bhroin, John Prendergast, Piaras Ó Droighneáin, Séamas Ó Fearghail, Julie O'Farrell, Emma Ní Fhaoláin, PJ Mac Gabhann, Antoine Ó Griallais, Ursula Mhic Cárthaigh, Ailbe O'Reilly, Colm Brussels, Frances Mulraney, Orlaith Nic Ghearailt, Natasha Mc Aleese, Caitríona Nic Bhloscaidh, Antóin Ó Ríagáin, Aengus Finnegan, Jill Mc Mahon, Derek O'Brien, Stephen Joyce, Sarah Walsh, Feena Tóibín, Éanna Motherway, Ashling Harteveld, Máire Áine Ní Shúilleabháin, Therese Collins, Moya Gorman, Emma Nic Thomáis, Amy Ní Cholgáin, Declan Quinn, Gearóid Ó Conchubhair, Deirdre Devlin, Fionnuala de Barra-Cusack, Margaret Quinn, Katie Ní Riain, Marion O'Connell, Siobhán O'Donnell, Luke Carroll, Mairéad Willis, Fearghal Ó Raifeartaigh, Justin Ó Gliasáin, Oisín Montanari, Kerron Ó Luain, Hannah Ní Chonghaile, Tomás Ó Murchú, Hugh Rowland, Sarah Eaton, Cillian Hanaphy, Katie Ní Loingsigh, Sorcha Ní Chnoic, Michelle Dunne, Sophie Osborne, Harriet Ní Chinnéide, Katie Nic Craith, Shane Wagy, Nils Pappers, Póilín Nic Géidigh, Tara Nic Cána, Conchúr Ó Sé, Katie Ní Fhaoláin, Daniel McWilliams, Fiona Faherty, Darragh Ó Caoimh, Muireann Ní Mhurchú, Shauna Conway, Conchúr Mag Eacháin, Seán Ó Nualláin, Oisín Goodman, Brian Ó Gallachóir, Cathal Burke, Fionnuala Cloke, Emma McGee, Róisín Byrne, Clare Coughlan, Mairéad Nic Lochlainn, Jack Ó hUiginn, Brian Ó Cearbhaill, Justin Ó Gliasáin, Michelle Dunne, Abaigéal Drummy and Ruadhán Keogh Daly.

Dr Caoilfhionn Nic Pháidín was Projects Director between 2004 and October 2015.