Biography
Ciaran Mac Donncha has more than 20 years of experience working with different age groups in the context of measurement, physical activity and health promotion. His primary research focus is on the determinants and correlates of physical activity and sedentary behaviour across the life-span and relevant data harmonisation. He graduated from the University of Limerick with a degree in Physical Education in 1991, he was awarded a Masters degree from the University of Bristol in Exercise and Health Sciences in 1992. He completed his Ph.D in 1998. Ciaran was appointed a lecturer in the Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Limerick in 1998. Since that time he has held the following posts of responsibility at the University: Programme Director, Head of Department and Assistant Dean of Research, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences. He was a member of the National Steering Group for Physical Activity in Ireland who prepared the first National Physical Activity Guidelines and the Draft Physical Activity Plan for Ireland. He has secured approx. 1.6m in research funding; produced in excess of 60 research outputs; supervised 8 PhDs and 6 MSc students to completion; currently supervising 5 PhD students, Joint WP leader and Chair of DEDIPAC Data Pooling taskforce (2013-2016) - EU Joint Programme Initiative (JPI) Determinants of Diet, Physical Activity Knowledge HUB (DEDIPAC); member and made a significant contribution to the national committee on physical activity guidelines and national physical activity strategic policy (2008-2012); currently work package leader EMPATIA Erasmus+ project (2018-2020) and expert contributor EU JPI Policy Evaluation Network. Has engaged in significant research grant and journal peer review activities.
Research Interests
Determinants/Correlates of Physical Activity and related Health; Physical Activity and Health Promotion, Physical Education and Public Health
Teaching Interests
Teaching & assessment on Physical Education and Sport and Exercise Sciences degree programmes. Teaching modules are: Pedagogy, Exercise & Childrens Health, Exercise & Health Psychology, Human Performance Evaluation, Research Methods.
Professional Activities
Committee
- 2008 National Physical Activity Steering Committee,
- 2001 Physical Education Association of Ireland,
Employment
- 2003 University of Limerick - Lecturer
Education
- 1998 University of Limerick - Ph.D.
- 1992 University of Bristol - M.Sc.
- 1991 University of Limerick - B.A.
Publications
Conference Contribution
The measurement of changes in well-being, health, physical activity and lifestyle by volunteers in the Limerick Smarter Travel (LST) challenge programme: a pilot study.
Y Nathan; A Hannigan; C OGorman; A Donnelly; M Mannix; C MacDonncha; C Dunne W Cullen.
Conference Publication
11th ICCE Global Coach Conference Challenging Sport Coaching Frontiers: The Role of Sport Science and Technology
Kinnerk, P., Harvey, S., MacDonncha, C. & Lyons, M.
EUROPEAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION (EUPHA)
Puggina, A,Aleksovska, K,Carlin, A,Condello, G,Cortis, C,Jaeschke, L,Kennedy, A,MacDonncha, C,Capranica, L,Boccia, S,DEDIPAC Consortium
European Public Health Association (EUPHA)
Boccia, S,Puggina, A,Aleksovska, K,Carlin, A,Condello, G,Cortis, C,Jaeschke, L,Kennedy, A,MacDonncha, C,Capranica, L,DEDIPAC Consortium
European Conference of Developmental Psychology
Connell, A; Smyth, PJ; MacDonncha C
American College of Sports Medicine
O'Neill, CM; MacDonncha, C
European College of Sport Science
Murphy, A; Smyth, PJ; Mac Donncha, C
Royal Academy of Medicine Ireland; Section of Biomedical Sciences
MacDonncha, C; A.W.S. Watson, AWS
Royal Academy of Medicine Ireland; Section of Biomedical Sciences
MacDonncha, C; A.W.S. Watson, AWS
Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland; Section of Biomedical Sciences
MacDonncha, C; A.W.S. Watson, AWS
Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland; Section of Biomedical Sciences
MacDonncha, C; A.W.S. Watson, AWS
American College of Sports Medicine
O Gorman, D; Hunter, A; Mac Donncha, C; Kirwan, JP
Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland; Section of Biomedical Sciences
MacDonncha, C; Watson, AWS
Other Journal
Primary Care Exercise Referral - Interim Findings.
Reddan, S; Sohun, R; MacDonncha, C
National Institute of Health Sciences Research Bulletin
Implementing a whole school approach to physical activity - preliminary findings in three pilot schools in the mid-west.
Sohun, R; MacDonncha, C
National Institute of Health Sciences Research Bulletin
The effect of a physical activity education programme in the hospital workplace setting.
Sohun, R; MacDonncha, C; Breen, C; Neeson, B
National Institute of Health Sciences Research Bulletin
Other Publication
Physical education: benefits to society
MacDonncha, C
THE IRISH SCIENTIST
Physical Activity and Physical Fitness in Irish Adolescents
MacDonncha, C; Sohun, R
Elements
Peer Reviewed Journal
Validity and reliability of three self-report instruments for assessing attainment of physical activity guidelines in third level students.
Murphy, J., Mac Donncha, C., Murphy M., Murphy, N. and Woods, C.B.
Measurement In Physical Education And Exercise Science
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1091367X.2017.1297711
Identifying and sharing data for secondary data analysis of physical activity, sedentary behaviour and their determinants across the life course in Europe: general principles and an example from DEDIPAC
Lakerveld, J,Loyen, A,Ling, FCM,De Craemer, M,van der Ploeg, HP,O'Gorman, DJ,Carlin, A,Caprinica, L,Kalter, J,Oppert, JM,Chastin, S,Cardon, G,Brug, J,MacDonncha, C
BMJ open
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-017489
Using concept mapping in the development of the EU-PAD framework (EUropean-Physical Activity Determinants across the life course): a DEDIPAC-study
Condello, G,Ling, FCM,Bianco, A,Chastin, S,Cardon, G,Ciarapica, D,Conte, D,Cortis, C,De Craemer, M,Di Blasio, A,Gjaka, M,Hansen, S,Holdsworth, M,Iacoviello, L,Izzicupo, P,Jaeschke, L,Leone, L,Manoni, L,Menescardi, C,Migliaccio, S,Nazare, JA,Perchoux, C,Pesce, C,Pierik, F,Pischon, T,Polito, A,Puggina, A,Sannella, A,Schlicht, W,Schulz, H,Simon, C,Steinbrecher, A,MacDonncha, C,Capranica, L,DEDIPAC Consortium
Bmc Public Health
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-016-3800-8
Year in School and Physical Activity Stage of Change as Discriminators of Variation in the Physical Activity Correlate Profile of Adolescent Females
Burns, C,Murphy, JJ,MacDonncha, C
Journal Of Physical Activity & Health
DOI: 10.1123/jpah.2011-0353
Reliability and validity of a new physical activity self-report measure for Younger Children
Belton, S; Mac Donncha, C.
Measurement In Physical Education And Exercise Science
DOI: 10.1080/10913670903454994
Meeting the international adolescent physical activity guidelines: A comparison of objectively measured and self-reported physical activity levels
Shiely, F; MacDonncha, C.
Irish Medical Journal
Lower back pain in physically demanding college academic programs: a questionnaire based study
Brennan, G; Shafat, A; Mac Donncha, C; Vekins, C
Bmc Musculoskeletal Disorders
DOI: 10.1186/1471-2474-8-67
A reliable technique for the assessment of posture: assessment criteria for aspects of posture
Watson, AWS; Mac Donncha, C
Journal Of Sports Medicine And Physical Fitness
Validity of field tests for evaluating endurance capacity in competitive and international-level sports participants
O'Gorman, D; Hunter, A; McDonnacha, C; Kirwan, JP
Journal Of Strength And Conditioning Research
Reliability of Eurofit physical fitness items for adolescent males with and without mental retardation
MacDonncha, C; Watson, AWS; McSweeney, T; O'Donovan, DJ
Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly
Published Report
The National Guidelines on Physical Activity for Ireland
The National Physical Activity Steering Group
Physical Activity Participation programme for people with Disability
Socrates Project - No 71189-CP-2-2000-1-LT-Minerva-ODL
Socialisation of people with a disability by motivating them for adapted physical activity
European Commission, Socrates Project - No 71189-CP-2-2000-1-LT-Minerva-ODL