Maynooth University Social Sciences Institute, Iontas Building, Maynooth (2026)

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19/10/2026

🏘️ Housing, data, art and activism: More to explore this week in Dublin!

The Fictions, Frictions & Evictions exhibition continues at The Bank, Dublin 8, with a series of events exploring Ireland's housing emergency through research, creative practice and community engagement.

Organised as part of the Data Stories project at MUSSI, Maynooth University, the remaining programme includes:

📚 Tuesday 20 October | 6.30pm
In Defence of Housing – CATU & Saints & Scholars
An open reading group exploring housing justice, residential alienation and the commodification of housing.

🚶 Wednesday 21 October | 5.30pm
Con: temporary Quarters – A Cultural Tour of Hotels in The Liberties
Join artists Aoife Ward and Eve Woods for a satirical walking tour exploring gentrification, urban development and the changing character of Dublin 8.

🎭 Thursday 22 October | Evening
Nervous System – Joan Somers Donnelly
A thought-provoking lecture performance examining evidence, expertise and decision-making in Irish housing and planning policy, drawing on research from Data Stories.

📍 The Bank at The Digital Hub, 85 James's Street, Dublin 8.

These events bring together academic research, artistic expression and public participation to encourage new conversations about housing and the future of our cities.

🔗 Explore the full programme and booking details:
https://fictions-frictions-evictions.ie/events.html

13/10/2026

🌍 New Research | Diaspora Community Engagement and Social Cohesion

Community organisations are doing vital work supporting integration, helping people access services, find employment, develop skills and build a sense of belonging.

However, new research from Maynooth University Social Sciences Institute (MUSSI) and the University of the West of Scotland highlights the challenges these organisations face, including short-term funding, repeated consultations without visible outcomes and a disconnect between government policy and community experiences.

The joint research briefing, Diaspora Community Engagement and Social Cohesion: Reframing Engagement for Community Futures in Ireland and Scotland, explores these challenges and the importance of supporting meaningful, long-term community engagement.

🔗 Read more about the findings:
https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/news-events/community-groups-doing-fundamental-work-integration-failed-short-term-funding

09/10/2026

Researcher Spotlight: Leah Aaron

This week, our Researcher Spotlight features Leah Aaron, a new member of the ERC-funded Data Stories team at the Maynooth University Social Sciences Institute (MUSSI).

Leah's research focuses on urban planning and housing data, with particular expertise in examining how data is collected, assessed and used to inform planning decisions.

Joining Data Stories from University College London (UCL), where Leah has been completing a PhD in Urban Planning, Leah's work with the project focuses on Northern Ireland, providing a valuable comparative perspective on housing and planning data across the island.

It's a particularly exciting time for the Data Stories team, with their major exhibition, Fictions, Frictions & Evictions: Understanding Ireland's Housing Emergency through Data Stories, Public Knowledge, Art & Activism, opening next week in Dublin.

Ahead of the exhibition, Leah will chair a roundtable discussion exploring "To What Extent Is Planning Sufficiently Evidence-Based?" at the Data Stories symposium on Thursday 15 October.

The discussion will examine an important question at the heart of the project: how can we make better planning decisions when the data and evidence available may be incomplete or inconsistent?

A great opportunity to introduce another member of the Data Stories team and highlight the research contributing to wider conversations around housing and planning.

🔗 Find out more about the exhibition and accompanying programme: https://fictions-frictions-evictions.ie/

08/10/2026

What makes good public policy work in practice?

At our Research for Policy seminar in september, we explored how government departments can strengthen their ability to deliver effective policies and public services, and the important role that academic research can play in supporting that work.

We were delighted to welcome Maeve Brett and Dr Joe McDonagh, who shared their insights into Ireland's Organisational Capability Review Programme and how collaboration between researchers and public service organisations can support meaningful change.

The discussion highlighted the importance of organisational learning, building strong working relationships and bringing research expertise into the practical challenges of policy implementation.

Thanks to our speakers and everyone who joined us at Maynooth University and online.

🎥 If you missed the seminar or would like to revisit the discussion, you can watch the recording here: https://youtu.be/854wy70uDQQ

24/09/2026

A new report examining the economic, social and environmental costs of data centre development in Ireland has been published today.

**How We All Pay for Big Tech: The Social, Economic, and Environmental Costs of Data Centres in Ireland** is authored by Seán Fearon (Autonomous University of Barcelona), Dr Patrick Bresnihan (Maynooth University) and Dr Patrick Brodie (University College Dublin).

The report examines the direct, indirect and opportunity costs associated with the continued expansion of data centres in Ireland, including their impact on energy use, employment, investment and wider social and environmental priorities.

Read more on the MUSSI website: https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/social-sciences-institute/news/how-we-all-pay-big-tech-social-economic-and-environmental-costs-data-centres-ireland

15/09/2026

Gaza’s Hidden Wounds: Daily Life and Psychological Trauma

Next week, we welcome Dr Yasser Abu Jamei, Director of the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme (GCMHP), to Maynooth University for an important conversation on the situation and living conditions in Gaza and the profound psychological impact of ongoing trauma.

Dr Abu Jamei will discuss the impact of three continuous years of exposure to trauma, harsh living conditions and lack of basic supports, as well as the work of GCMHP in responding to the overwhelming psychological needs of the population.

📅 Thursday, 24 September 2026
🕑 2:00–3:00pm
☕ Lunch, tea & coffee from 1:30pm
📍 MUSSI Research Lab, Room 2.38, Iontas Building, Maynooth University

Hosted by MUSSI, Trócaire, Academia for Palestine, and the School of Law & Criminology’s Research Centre in International Justice and LLM Programme in International Justice.

🔗 Register to attend: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/atPgMLWSu4

11/09/2026

This week, we're continuing to shine a light on some of the different skills and specialist roles that help make research happen at MUSSI.

Daire Walsh is a Data Software Developer with the National Centre for Geocomputation (NCG) and MUSSI, working across Earth Observation, geospatial technologies and research data platforms.

Working closely with Professor Tim McCarthy and the NCG team, Daire helps develop the software, platforms and technical infrastructure that enable researchers to work with complex Earth Observation and geospatial data.

His expertise contributes to a range of applied research projects, including DECAMAP, which brings together Earth Observation, drone technology, AI and geospatial data to support environmental monitoring and emergency response. Daire has also contributed to Terrain-AI and the development of EODataHub, supporting new ways of accessing, processing and working with Earth Observation data.

His work highlights the important role that software development and technical expertise play in research – helping to turn complex datasets and research ideas into practical tools and applications with real-world value.

Like our recent spotlight on Creative Technologist Oliver Dawkins, this week's spotlight is also an opportunity to recognise the breadth of expertise behind research at MUSSI and the specialist roles that help make ambitious interdisciplinary projects possible.

🔗 Learn more about DECAMAP and the work of the NCG team: https://decamap.com/team/

09/09/2026

Today we had the pleasure of gathering colleagues and friends to celebrate the retirement of our colleague Seán Ó Foghlú. 🎉

Seán joined MUSSI in 2022 as Senior Fellow in Public Policy, following a distinguished career in the Civil Service. During his time with us, he has played an important role in strengthening connections between research, public policy and practice, working closely with Professor Mark Boyle and Dr John O’Connor and helping to develop our Research for Policy work.

Professor Linda Connolly, MUSSI Director, thanked Seán for his commitment and contribution to the Institute, and we were delighted to present him with a framed relief map of Ireland as a small token of our appreciation.

Thankfully, it’s not quite goodbye yet, as Seán will continue working with us over the coming months as the current project draws to a close.

Wishing Seán a very happy retirement, with plenty of travel, music and adventures ahead! ☘️

04/09/2026

🔦 **Researcher Spotlight: Oliver Dawkins**

This week, we're taking a slightly different approach to our Researcher Spotlight, highlighting one of the specialist roles that helps bring research to life at MUSSI.

**Oliver Dawkins** is Creative Technologist with the ERC-funded **Data Stories** project, led by Professor Rob Kitchin at the Maynooth University Social Sciences Institute.

Oliver's work sits at the intersection of technology, data, research and creative practice. He leads the technical development of interactive data stories, using approaches including spatial data, 3D visualisation, gaming technologies, mixed reality and data physicalisation to explore and communicate complex issues around housing, planning, land use and urban infrastructure.

His work demonstrates how emerging technologies can do more than visualise data – they can create new ways for researchers, policymakers and the public to engage with and understand the places and systems around them.

Oliver has also contributed to research on urban digital twins, including recent publications with Professor Rob Kitchin examining their potential for mapping, participation and engagement in the built environment.

Before joining Data Stories, Oliver worked on the Building City Dashboards project at Maynooth University's National Centre for Geocomputation and previously held research roles at UCL and the Intel Collaborative Research Institute for Urban IoT in London.

This week's spotlight is also a reminder of the diverse expertise behind research at MUSSI – from academic research to the technical and creative skills that help turn research and data into something people can explore, experience and use.

🔗 Learn more about Oliver and Data Stories: https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/people/oliver-dawkins

04/09/2026

**Researcher Spotlight: Professor Linda Connolly**

This week, our Researcher Spotlight features **Professor Linda Connolly**, Director of the Maynooth University Social Sciences Institute (MUSSI) and Professor of Sociology at Maynooth University.

Linda's research spans Irish sociology, gender and women's studies, feminism, family, social movements and Irish Studies, with a particular focus in recent years on women's experiences of violence during periods of conflict and revolution.

Her latest book, ***Women, Violence and Twentieth-Century Warfare: The Irish Revolution and Its Legacies***, has recently been published by Routledge.

The book explores the often unspoken and hidden impact of war and violent conflict on women, using Ireland as a case study while placing these experiences within the wider context of twentieth-century warfare. Drawing on extensive archival research, it examines experiences including sexual and gender-based violence, forced hair cutting, psychological trauma and migration, and considers the lasting impact of violence long after conflict itself has ended.

The book builds on Linda's extensive body of research into women, gender and Irish society, including her previous work on the Irish women's movement, family, social movements and women's experiences during the Irish Revolution.

Alongside her research, Linda has been Director of MUSSI since 2016, supporting and developing interdisciplinary social science research across Maynooth University.

Congratulations to Linda on the publication of this important new work.

🔗 Learn more about Linda's research: https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/people/linda-connolly
📚 Find out more about the new book: https://www.routledge.com/Women-Violence-and-Twentieth-Century-Warfare-The-Irish-Revolution-and-Its-Legacies/Connolly/p/book/9781032890517

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