Biography

Dr. Deirdre Ní Loingsigh, Stiúrthóir na Gaeilge, Ollscoil Luimnigh is the Director of Aonad na Gaeilge, the Irish Language Centre, at the University of Limerick. She is Course Director of the Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge Fheidhmeach programme and she also leads the Gaeilge strand on the Professional Master of Education (Languages). She teaches on language pedagogy and applied Irish modules. She is the course developer and module coordinator of a new microcredential launched in Spring 2024 called Language Coaching in the Workplace

She is a Knowledge for Change (K4C) Mentor with UL Engage having completed the Mentor Training Programme at the University of Victoria, Canada. She currently leads the Languages and Culture portfolio at the Knowledge for Change (K4C) UNESCO Hub in Limerick.


Her early career teaching Physical Education and Irish, and her background in the disciplines of History and Local Studies, and Folklore inform her teaching, research, and engagement activities. Before joining UL as a member of Faculty in 2001, she taught at GMIT (Castlebar Campus) and worked with Meitheal Mhaigh Eo Teo, the Area Based Partnership for Co. Mayo, on a rural development initiative in the Erris Gaeltacht.


She has led many innovations and projects relating to Irish language support, advising, promotion and pedagogy over the last twenty years. More recently, in her role as K4C Mentor, she has led the design and production of COMHRÁ, a teaching and learning resource on Community-Based Participatory Research. This ten-part video vignette series was produced for UL Engage/K4C Hub in 2021.


She has been actively involved in the European Centre for Modern Languages (ECML) Language for Work project since 2017. In October 2021 she was the Irish coordinator of the ECML Training and Consultancy two-day event for member states Language for Work: Supporting Work-Related Second Language Learning.

Her research areas of expertise are Pádraig Ó Siochfhradha (An Seabhac); Advising in Language Learning (ALL); Language for Work; Language Coaching in the Workplace, Language and Wellbeing; Adult Education, and Participatory Research.

She is currently (2024) supervising four PhD students working in the field of the Psychology of Language Learning, and one PhD student working on a Gaeltacht-based music and wellbeing initiative.

Key Responsibilities
Stiúrthóir, Aonad na Gaeilge [The Irish Language Centre at UL]
https://www.ul.ie/artsoc/aonad-na-gaeilge
Course Director: Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge Fheidhmeach
Subject Leader - Gaeilge: Professional Master of Education (Languages)
UL Knowledge for Change (K4C) Mentor (Languages and Culture Portfolio)
Microcredential developer and module coordinator: GA6172 An Chóitseáil Teanga san Ionad Oibre / Language Coaching in the Workplace.
Module Coordinator: LP6012/LP6015 (Language Pedagogy).

Research Interests

Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR); adult learners; transformative learning; work-based language learning; Advising in Language Learning (ALL); language policy and organisational change; positive institutions, language (in)security; language networks; new speakerness; problem-based learning; language teacher education, and the life and work of An Seabhac. My training as a Knowledge for Change (K4C) mentor in 2019 and my involvement in the UNESCO Knowledge for Change (K4C) initiative at UL has triggered an interest in arts-based research methods also.

The title of my doctoral thesis was 'Minority Language Learning in the Workplace: Contextual Practices, Relational Knowing, Mandate, and Change'. I proposed a framework of language advising for the mandated and minority language context in this work. I also mapped the spatial and contextual practices of members of a Language Support Network, a Network which I established as a forum where issues of language anxiety in the professional context might be explored. The findings of this Participatory Action Research (PAR) study inform current practice in language support initiatives at Aonad na Gaeilge, UL. They have also informed the development of a new UL microcredential on Language Coaching in the Workplace.

I am currently coordinating BLÁTHÚ, a PAR project entitled
An Rannpháirtíocht Phobail, Líonrú agus an Tacaíocht Teanga do Nuachainteoirí na Gaeilge i bpobail lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht [Public Engagement, Networking and Language Support for New Speakers of Irish in Communities outside of An Ghaeltacht]



Professional Activities

Education

  • 2019 University of Victoria, Canada - Knowledge for Change Mentor
  • 2015 NUIM - Doctor of Education
  • 2003 UL - MA History and Local Studies
  • 1999 NUIG - MA sa Nua-Ghaeilge
  • 1993 UL - BA Corpoideachas le Gaeilge

Committee

  • Coiste na Gaeilge, UL ,
  • UL Official Languages Act Implementation Group ,
  • An Coiste Seasta um Cháilíocht Teanga, NUIG,
  • University Teacher Education Board,
  • UL Engage University Working Group,

Association

  • Rúnaí Ballraíochta / Membership Secretary 2001-2014, Cumann Merriman
  • Appointed member (2000-2003), Irish Water Safety (IWS) National Education Commission
  • Member of Executive Committee (1997-1999), Physical Education Association of Ireland [PEAI]
  • Rúnaí Feidhmeach (2005-2006), Coiste na nOifigeach agus na Stiúrthóirí Gaeilge Ollscoile
  • Member, The International Association for the Psychology of Language Learning (IAPLL)

Other

  • External Examiner: Dioplóma i Múineadh na Gaeilge (Daoine Fásta)
    Maynooth University, NUI Maynooth.

Outreach

  • I lead the Knowledge for Change (K4C) Language and Culture portfolio for UL. K4C is UNESCO initiative which aims to train the next generation of Community-Based Participatory Research researchers and promote authentic university-community research partnerships The K4C programme was officially launched at St Munchin's Community Centre, Kileely on 11 Feb. 2020,

Research Collaborators

  • Marina Mozzon-McPherson - Joint Publication - University of Hull -England
  • European Centre for Modern Languages (ECML) Language for Work Network - Other -Austria -European Centre for Modern Languages Network (ECML) I am an active member of this Network. I was the organiser of the Irish National Training and Consultancy event (2-day workshop) in October 2020 to disseminate the ECML Language for Work (LFW) project materials and meet other needs relating to LFW in the Irish context.
  • COST Action New Speakers in a Multilingual Europe - Other -Member of Working Group 8 on the New Speakers Network Speakerness: Subjectivities, Trajectories, Space
  • Dr. TJ Ó Ceallaigh - Co-supervision of PhD - University College Cork -Student: Emily-Anne Rennison
  • Carsten Quell - International Collaboration Type -Canada -Canada Executive Director, Official Languages Centre of Excellence, Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer, Ottawa. (Project on Linguistic Insecurity) Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat / Government of Canada
  • Budd Hall - Joint Programme -Canada -K4C global programme / UL Engage Budd is based at Univerisity of Victoria, Canada UNESCO Co-Chair on Community Based Research and Social Responsibility in Higher Education)
  • Language Management Interdisciplinary Group - International Collaboration Type - University of Ottawa -Canada -Invited member of The Language Management Interdisciplinary Research Group (GRIGL https://ccerbal.uottawa.ca/lmirg/members

Peer Reviewed Journals

2020

Advising in Language Learning in a new speaker context: Facilitating linguistic shifts

Ní Loingsigh, D; Mozzon-McPherson, M (2020) Advising in Language Learning in a new speaker context: Facilitating linguistic shifts. Linköping Elsevier :102363-

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Books

This author has not written any publications of this type yet.

Book Chapters

2024

(In Press) The Bibliographical Legacy of An Seabhac (1883–1964)

Ní Loingsigh, D. (2024) (In Press) The Bibliographical Legacy of An Seabhac (1883–1964). Oxford : Open University Press THE OXFORD HISTORY OF THE IRISH BOOK VOLUME II: The Printed Book in Irish 1567–2000s

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2009

An Staid Reatha - Teagasc na Gaeilge faoi láthair; Ollscoil Luimnigh

Ó hIfearnáin, T. & Ní Loingsigh, D. (2009) An Staid Reatha - Teagasc na Gaeilge faoi láthair; Ollscoil Luimnigh. Baile Átha Cliath : Cois Life Ó Theagasc Teanga go Sealbhú Teanga: Múineadh agus Foghlaim na Gaeilge ar an Tríú Leibhéal :52-58

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Edited Books

2015

'Rí na Gréine': Aistí i gCuimhne ar An Seabhac

(2015) 'Rí na Gréine': Aistí i gCuimhne ar An Seabhac. Baile Átha Cliath : An Cumann le Béaloideas Éireann

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Other Journals

2023

The professional practice of language advising in the official languages workplace context in Ireland

Ní Loingsigh, Deirdre (2023) The professional practice of language advising in the official languages workplace context in Ireland. : De Gruyter Mouton. Linguistic Minorities in Europe Online

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Conference Publications

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Conference Contributions

2023

CCERBAL 2023

Ní Loingsigh, Deirdre (2023) CCERBAL 2023.

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2022

UNESCO World Higher Education Week 2022

Ní Loingsigh, Deirdre (2022) UNESCO World Higher Education Week 2022.

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2022

Psychology of Language Learning 4

Ní Loingsigh, Deirdre (2022) Psychology of Language Learning 4 .

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2021

Bilingualism and Beyond: Advancing the Thinking on Pedagogies, Policies and Practices

Ní Loingsigh, D (2021) Bilingualism and Beyond: Advancing the Thinking on Pedagogies, Policies and Practices .

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2020

Association of University Language Communities in the UK and Ireland (AULC) 2020AULC

Ní Loingsigh, D. (2020) Association of University Language Communities in the UK and Ireland (AULC) 2020AULC .

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2019

CSIS/Translation Commons International Year of Indigenous Languages (IYIL) event

Ní Loingsigh, D. (2019) CSIS/Translation Commons International Year of Indigenous Languages (IYIL) event.

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2018

Lunch and Learn [invited presentation] Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat / Government of Canada

Ní Loingsigh, D. (2018) Lunch and Learn [invited presentation] Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat / Government of Canada.

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2018

ECML Language for Work: Tools for professional development

Ní Loingsigh, D. (2018) ECML Language for Work: Tools for professional development.

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2018

Multidisciplinary Approaches in Language Policy and Planning Conference 2018

Ní Loingsigh, D. (2018) Multidisciplinary Approaches in Language Policy and Planning Conference 2018 .

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2018

CALS Research Day 2018

Ní Loingsigh, D. (2018) CALS Research Day 2018.

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2018

SEIMINEÁR GAEILGE ÓGLAIGH NA hÉIREANN 2018

Ní Loingsigh, D. (2018) SEIMINEÁR GAEILGE ÓGLAIGH NA hÉIREANN 2018 .

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2017

New Speakers in a Multilingual Europe: Policies and Practices (Final Whole Action Conference)

Ní Loingsigh, D., Ní Ghearáin, H., Ó Cairealláin, A., Ó Súilleabháin, S. (2017) New Speakers in a Multilingual Europe: Policies and Practices (Final Whole Action Conference).

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2017

International Symposium on Bilingualism ISB11

Ní Loingsigh, D; Mozzon-McPherson, M, Bradley, F. (2017) International Symposium on Bilingualism ISB11.

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2016

Psychology of Language Learning 2

Ní Loingsigh, D. (2016) Psychology of Language Learning 2.

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2016

Supporting & Developing Minority Language Communities: a Seminar for Language Practitioners in Higher Education with a particular reference to Irish & Scottish Gaelic

Ní Loingsigh, D (2016) Supporting & Developing Minority Language Communities: a Seminar for Language Practitioners in Higher Education with a particular reference to Irish & Scottish Gaelic.

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2016

The New Speakers Network 2nd Whole Action Conference

Ní Loingsigh, D. (2016) The New Speakers Network 2nd Whole Action Conference.

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2016

Comhdháil Chumann Idirnáisiúnta na gCoimisinéirí Teanga, 2016

Ní Loingsigh, D. (2016) Comhdháil Chumann Idirnáisiúnta na gCoimisinéirí Teanga, 2016.

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2015

Ceiliúradh Lughnasa Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne

Ní Loingsigh, D. (2015) Ceiliúradh Lughnasa Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne.

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2015

Forward thinking in Applied Linguistics IRAAL 40th Anniversary Conference 2015

Ní Loingsigh, D. (2015) Forward thinking in Applied Linguistics IRAAL 40th Anniversary Conference 2015.

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2015

Centre for Applied Language Studies (CALS) UL Research Day

Ní Loingsigh, D. (2015) Centre for Applied Language Studies (CALS) UL Research Day .

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Published Reports

This author has not written any publications of this type yet.

Editorials

This author has not written any publications of this type yet.

Book Reviews

This author has not written any publications of this type yet.

Other Publications

2018

ECML Language for Work: Tools for professional development (Quick Guide)

Bradwell, A. Grünhage-Monetti, M., Portefin. C., Sjösvärd, K. (2018) ECML Language for Work: Tools for professional development (Quick Guide). Graz, Austria : ECML

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2005

Seabhac na hAmharclainne

Ní Loingsigh, Deirdre (2005) Seabhac na hAmharclainne. Camas, Conamara : An Comhlachas Náisiúnta Drámaíochta

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