Welcome to my home page. I am a Senior Lecturer in Government at Dublin City University  where I am a member of the School of  Law and Government. 
 

My co-edited book "The Lemass Era: Politics and Society in the Ireland of Sean Lemass" (November 2005), with Brian Girvin of the University of Glasgow, has just  been published by  UCD Press . This volume, based primarily on archival sources, to which a number of established authors have contributed explores the era from 1945-1973 and assesses the contribution of Lemass to Irish politics and society. The book was launched by An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, on November 24, 2005. Read the Taoiseach's remarks at the launch here. The Taoiseach later named the book one of his favourite reads of 2005 on the RTE programme Rattlebag. Listen to  the Taoiseach's remarks here. 
 
 

From 2002 to 2005 I was co-editor of Irish Political Studies,  the leading journal in Irish political science published by Taylor and Francis. Having finished my tenure as editor I am a now a member of the editorial board. 

My book  'Economic Realignment and the Politics of EEC Entry, Ireland 1948-1972' published by Maunsel Press in the United States was launched at the Irish Embassy in Washington D.C. in early June 2003. 

Amongst my publications are a chapter in How Ireland Voted 2002, published by Palgrave Press, in 2003, which is  the definitive account of the Irish General Election of 2002.

 

Current Research Interests:
 

• I am involved in research with Raj Chari of TCD,  funded by the Irish Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government examining the regulation of lobbying activity in the EU, USA, Canada and Germany and assessing the relevance of such regulation for Ireland. 

• Contemporary Irish Politics, particularly interest group behaviour and questions relating to lobbying. See a recent journalistic piece in the British magazine Public Affairs News on the rise of the public affairs consultant in Ireland here

• The Theodore Roosevelt Era

• Click here for a list of my publications.

 

 
 
 

Current Teaching Interests:

Semester One

LG114    The Emergence of Modern America

 
Semester Two

LG521    US foreign policy

LG104    The emergence of modern Europe -Marx to Monnet
 

In April 2005, I was delighted to host the  then American ambassador to Ireland, his excellency, James C. Kenny, who gave a lecture entitled "Conservative Internationalism and Our Transatlantic Agenda" to our MA in International Relations and MA in Globalisation students. Read Ambassador Kenny's remarks here. 
 
 
 
 

New undergraduate degrees in the School of Law and Government

In September 2004 the School of Law and Government launched two new undergraduate degrees 

BA in Economics, Politics and Law  (DC230)
BA in International Relations (DC231)

 
Professional Membership:
 
• Co- Editor 2002-2005, Irish Political Studies, published by Taylor & Francis

• Secretary, 1999-2002  Political Studies Association of Ireland 

• Member of the Advisory Council of Transparency International Ireland 

SEANAD VOTES FOR DCU GRADUATES

I have been active in DCU's campaign to ensure our graduates receive a senate vote as they are entitled to under the 7th amendment to the constitution passed in 1979. Along with my then colleague Eilis O'Brien Director of communications at DCU, I presented DCU's case for the extension of the Seanad University franchise to the Seanad sub-committee on 18 September 2003. Read our submission here
 

Professional Activities
 

• I have been used as an authority in Government by various media outlets. These appearances have usually related to questions of political corruption, lobbying, and electoral politics, particularly the 2002 general election.

• These include: RTE Television’s flagship current affairs programme Prime Time, its weekly political programme 'The Week in Politics', its daily 9 O'Clock News, and Network Two's Television’s nightly news programme, 'News Two'. I have also been interviewed on TV3's morning show Ireland AM and its sunday morning politics programme 'Agenda' with David McWilliams.

• On Radio, I have been used by RTE Radio One’s flagship morning news programme Morning Ireland, its  Sunday magazine show ‘The Sunday Show' and its flagship evening programme ‘Five-Seven Live’ , Today FM's The Last Word , NewsTalk 106, and BBC Northern Ireland' s Talk Back. I am a regular contributor to News Talk's international affairs weekend show The Wide Angle where I comment on American politics. 

• I have been used as an authority by a number of national and international newspapers. These include The Irish Times, Irish Examiner, Sunday Tribune, Magill magazine, The New York Times, and The International Herald Tribune  and last but certainly not least Cork's very own Evening Echo

 

 
 
 
 
 

Administrative Responsibilities

I am Associate Dean for Research in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at DCU. 

I was Chair of DCU's Research Advisory Panel, in 2004 and a member of the University's research committee between 2003 and 2005. 

From 1999 until 2002 I was Chair of the Bachelor of Business Studies Degree.

Now for something completely different

I am an avid follower of Cork's GAA teams. You can follow our fortunes on Cork's best GAA website