The Assistant Dean of Research, Dr Niamh Nic Ghabhann welcomed the attendees to the conference while looking forward to the proceedings of the day.  Prof. Niamh Hourigan, Vice President of Academic Affairs, Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, provided the opening address.  Prof. Hourigan spoke about the diversity of the research evidenced by the themes of the papers and posters on offer at the conference.  Prof. Hourigan also stated that researchers within the Faculty of Humanities are privileged to be able to research in areas that are self-satisfying.  She also mentioned how there is always a ‘me-search’ in research.

The postgraduate students then began to present their work.  As there was such a great response to the call for papers, the conference was organised in parallel sessions.  View the booklet here.

During the breaks, students who presented their research in poster format were available to discuss their projects with attendees.  The conference highlighted the rich and varied research being undertaken by the postgraduate researchers in their disciplines. 

The event was well supported and provided the students with an opportunity to present their work and gain feedback from their peers and colleagues.  Dr Niamh Lenahan closed the conference by thanking the participants and remarked on the high standard of papers and posters at the event.

Thank you to the Dean, Prof. Helen Kelly-Holmes for sponsoringthe prizes.  It was a very difficult decision due to the high standard,but a decision was made and the winners of the Dean's Prize for ConferencePaper and Poster Presentation are as follows:

Joint 1st:  Tracy McAvinue (below left), School of EIC University of Limerick and Louise Ryan (below right), Department of Sociology, University of Limerick

1st:  Marina Selnitsyna, Department of Politics& Public Administration, University of Limerick

2nd: Louise McNeil, School of Law, University ofLimerick.

The posters are currently on display in the Kate O’Brien Room, C1079.

Thank you to Cathal Moylette for his assistance on the day and also to Oonagh Grace, Jess Beeley and Caroline Harrington all from the Faculty Office for their assistance with the lead up to the event and on the day.  Thank you to all admin staff for forwarding the call for papers.  Thank you also to Dr Julianne Stack and Carmel McKenna for forwarding notices within Mary Immaculate College and Limerick Institute of Technology.