I recently completed a six-week research fellowship at the Moore Institute, National University of Ireland, Galway. I used this opportunity to incorporate the Hardiman Library’s extensive collections in Irish history and Irish cultural geography to finish another chapter of my book, and to research and write a chapter for the forthcoming Cambridge History of Irish Literature and the Environment. I also delivered a talk, “Digitizing Revolutionary Violence against Irish Environments,” which was well attended and offered constructive feedback on my overlapping interests in Irish environmental and digital history!
Being on campus at NUIG was helpful as it allowed me to meet with Galway-based scholars and discuss avenues toward collaboration. Kevin O’Sullivan and Nessa Cronin were particularly helpful in this regard, and attending the Irish Studies seminar put me in contact with several others, included Louis de Paor and Irish Studies MA students.
It’s difficult to fully outline how positive this experience was for me. Structurally, the visiting fellowship offers the perfect level of financial and administrative support. I was able to undertake my work with great freedom, and was welcomed to participate in Institute events as they occurred. NUI Galway is also an ideal work location; its library and resources greatly aided my research and writing. Galway city is also ideal, and I simply fell in love with it. Also, I very much like that potential fellows are required to contact a sponsor for support – this cultivates collaboration and the potential for post-fellowship impact. Overall, it was a wonderful experience and I look forward to returning to NUI Galway and the Moore Institute in the future!
saoirbhreathach dolan: jdstover 