Dr Hilary Tierney
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Biography
I joined the Department of Applied Social Studies in MU after many years as a community work and youth work practitioner in a variety of roles and contexts. I contribute across the Department’s programmes in the areas of youth work theory, policy and practice, supervision, professional skills development and research theory and practice.
My practice and research interests converge in a specific interest in reflective practice, professional supervision, informal education, ethics and values in professional practice and the professional formation of gender conscious practitioners.
I am particularly interested in the potential of informal social education to develop young people's critical capacities as local and global citizens who are committed to equality, social justice and human rights.
The Department's mission to 'promote human rights, social justice and equality, nationally and internationally, through excellence and innovation in education, research and public engagement that contribute to the development of the social professions and applied social sciences' is both a 'guiding principle' and a 'call to action' in all aspects of my work within the university and my wider engagement with the field of community work and youth work, nationally and internationally.
Research Interests
My approach to research is rooted in the values, principles and practice of community work and youth work. I draw on narrative and feminist approaches that seek to engage in research with and alongside participants as co-producers of knowledge. I am committed to research that is engaged, collaborative, participatory and social justice focused that contributes to real world impacts in the field of youth work and community work. I am co-Director of the Centre for Youth Research and Development [CYRD] at the Department of Applied Social Studies and a member of the Advisory Group for the Pool of European Youth Researchers {PEYR]. My research interests include, though are are not limited to:
Professional Practice
Youth Work
Young People
Global Youth Work
Community Work
Global Youth Work
Human Rights in Practice
Sustainable Development
Research Projects
Book Chapter
Year | Publication | |
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2023 | Ciara Bradley, Sinead McMahon, Hilary Tierney (2023) 'Research for Practice in the Social Professions' In: Research for Social Justice. London : Bristol Policy Press. | |
2021 | Dempsey, M., & Tierney, H. (2021) 'Ethical Challenges in Educational Research during the Pandemic Implications for interviewing in the online environment' In: Education Matters - Ireland's Education Yearbook 2020. Dublin : Education Matters. [Link] | |
2019 | Janice Feighery, Barbara Nea and Hilary Tierney (2019) 'STEAMING AHEAD: TOWARDS EMBEDDING STEAM IN IRISH YOUTH WORK' In: Maker Activities in Youth Work. Helsinki, Finland : Verke. [Link] | |
2020 | Cooper, T.; Brooker, M.R.; Tierney, H.; Sutcliffe, J. (2020) 'Digital technologies and youth work: Opportunities and challenges for models and theory' In: Youth Work In A Digital Society. [Link] [DOI] | |
2025 | Trudi Cooper, Tim Corney, Happry Shein, Hilary Tierney (2025) '‘Youth, Transition and Social Justice: (re)searching spaces of social action’' In: Booke edited by Miichael Whelan and Micahel McShane. https://blogs.uwe.ac.uk/research-business-innovation/youth-transition-and-social-justice-researching-spaces-of-social-action-call-for-chapters/ : Bristol Univeral Press. | |
2024 | Sinead McMahon, Ciara Bradley and Hilary Tierney (2024) 'Using a Social Justice Lens in Research Engagements for Community Work and Youth Work Practice' In: Rights and Social Justice in Research Advancing Methodologies for Social Change. Bristol : Bristol Policy Press. |
Peer Reviewed Journal
Year | Publication | |
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2023 | Bradley, C. Gorman, J. Tierney, H (2023) '“A journey, not a destination”: Emerging Professional Identities of Community Work & Youth Work Students'. Journal of Practice Teaching and Learning, (Special Issue). [Link] | |
2011 | Hilary Tierney (2011) 'Mapping Fieldwork and SupervisionPractice in the Social Professions (Part 1)'. YOUTH STUDIES IRELAND, 6 (1):18-33. [Link] | |
2011 | Hilary Tierney (2011) 'Mapping Fieldwork and Supervision Practice in the Social Professions (Part 2)'. YOUTH STUDIES IRELAND, 6 (2):21-35. [Link] | |
2024 | Cooper, T.; Corney, T.; Tierney, H.; Gorman, J.; Sutcliffe, J. (2024) 'Talking about relational youth work: why language matters'. Journal of Youth Studies, . [Link] [DOI] | |
2024 | Rannala, I.E.; Gorman, J.; Tierney, H.; Guðmundsson, ; Hickey, J.; Corney, T. (2024) 'Ethical Practice in Professional Youth Work: Perspectives from Four Countries'. Ethics and Social Welfare, . [Link] [DOI] | |
2023 | Bradley, C; Devlin, M; Brennan, P; Tierney, H; Reynolds, S; Crickley, A. (2023) 'Pedagogy as Praxis: Education and training in initial professional education for Community Workers and Youth Workers'. Journal of Practice Teaching and Learning, (Special Issue). [Link] |
Other Journal
Year | Publication | |
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2013 | Mary Robb, Caroline Jones and Hilary Tierney (2013) 'The Evidence Conversation [Working Group on Evidence in Youth Work]' Irish Youth Work Scene, (77) :10-11. [Link] | |
2010 | Hilary Tierney (2010) 'Promoting Development Education in Youth Work Training - Research Review' Policy and Practice - A Development Education Review, (10) :135-138. [Link] | |
2000 | M. Devlin and H. Tierney (2000) 'Youthcert: Promoting Certification and Accreditation of Community-based Youth Work Training' Irish Youthwork Scene, 29 . [Full-Text] | |
1997 | Hilary Tierney (1997) 'Community Employment & Youth Work: Some consequences & Issues' Irish Youth Work Scene, (18) :3-4. [Link] |
Conference Publication
Year | Publication | |
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2011 | Hilary Tierney (2011) How do we know it is working? Outcomes in Youth Work . In: Gail Neil eds. Talking the Walk [Link] |
Conference Contribution
Year | Publication | |
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2023 | Hilary Tierney (2023) EaT SNAC German National Agency for Youth The Promise, the Ask and What is Required in Youuth Work Education and Training Milan, Italy, 19/10/2023-19/10/2023. | |
2023 | Hilary Tierney (2023) Latvian National E+ Agency for International Programs for Youth Getting Curious - accessing online curriculum resources for youth work education and training Riga, Latvia (online), 18/10/2023-18/10/2023. | |
2023 | Hilary Tierney (2023) Transferstelle zur Ausgestaltung der European Youth Work Agenda in Deutschland geplante Fachtagung Focus on Youth Work in Ireland Dortmund (Online), 06/10/2023-06/10/2023. [Link] | |
2022 | HILARY TIERNEY (2022) NATIONAL CLIMATE JUSTICE CONFERENCE FUTURE GENERATIONS NYCI DUBLIN, 23/11/2022-23/11/2022. | |
2022 | HILARY TIERNEY (2022) Expert meeting on higher education in youth work Networking Erasmus Youth + KA2 Dr Hilary Tierney HELSIINKI, 19/09/2022-23/09/2022. | |
2022 | HILARY TIERNEY (2022) VISIBLE VALUE strengthening the implementation of the European Youth Work Agenda in Eastern and Southeast Europe SARAJEVO, 14/11/2022-17/11/2022. | |
2021 | Ciara Bradley, Hilary Tierney, Jamie Gorman (2021) What's The Story? Narrative in Youth Work and Youth Studies - Maynooth, Ireland (Virtual) “A journey, not a destination”: Emerging professional narratives of Community and Youth workers Maynooth, Ireland (Virtual), . | |
2021 | Ciara Bradley, Hilary Tierney, Jamie Gorman (2021) World Community Development Conference 2021 - Nairobi, Kenya (Virtual) “A journey, not a destination”: Emerging professional narratives of Community Workers Nairobi, Kenya (Virtual), . | |
2021 | Dempsey, M., & Tierney, H. (2021) Ethical Challenges in Educational Research during the Pandemic Implications for interviewing in the online environment Education Matters Virtual Summit 2021 On-line, 06/05/2021-. | |
2020 | Hilary Tierney (2020) Competence frameworks for education and training of youth workers: Context and Considerations 3rd European Youth Work Convention Bonn, Germany, . | |
2019 | Hilary Tierney (2019) The Art of Supervising for Effective Practice Critical Conversations: Practicing and Supervising Reflectively and Ethically in the Social Professions UCC, Cork, . | |
2018 | Hilary Tierney (2018) ‘Hope is the better story: learning to “question everything” and “pick the battles you can win” in community work and youth worker’s practice narratives’ 4th International Irish Narrative Inquiry Conference Narrating Neo-Liberalism in an Irish Context Sligo IT, . | |
2018 | Hilary Tierney (2018) Expert Working grouo on Youth Work Education Systems for formal and non-formal education and validation of youth work education and training – the case of Ireland Brussels, . | |
2018 | Tim Corney and Hilary Tierney (2018) Ethics and Young People's Welfare Crosscurrents: Steering a course for youth work as a growth profession in the Commonwealth and in Europe . 3rd Commonwealth Conference on Youth Work Malta, . | |
2017 | Hilary Tierney (2017) Long and Winding Road: Professionalisation and Irish Youth Work Estonian Youth Workers Association 25th Anniversary Conference Tallinn University, Estonia, . | |
2017 | Hilary Tierney (2017) Designing learning and reflection for youth workers -TED-talk Expert Seminar Youth Work - Time to Show Off! SALTO Training & Cooperation Resource Centre De Glind, Netherlands, . | |
2016 | Hilary Tierney (2016) Time to Move - Youth Mobility Mobility and its benefits - https://soundcloud.com/l-argas-communications/hilary-tierney-speech-mobility-and-its-benefits-time-to-move-2016 Dublin Castle, . | |
2016 | Hilary Tierney and Brian Melaugh (2016) Hanging out in the gap – exercising professional judgement in an era of ‘organisational professionalism' Devolved, Diverse and Interdependent: Making Professional Connections [TAG-PALCYW] University of Ulster, . | |
2016 | Hilary Tierney (2016) British Irish Symposium on Youth Affairs A century and more of youth work Dublin, . | |
2016 | Hilary Tierney (2016) RPL in the Community and Youth Sector: Challenges & Opportunities RPL Practitioners Network [QQI] Limerick, . | |
2015 | Grace O’Grady (Education) Angela Rickard, (Education) Therese Hegarty (Froebel) Hilary Tierney (Applied Social Studies)David McCormack (Adult Education) Eva Lindroos (English) (2015) A Field in the Making. The Second Irish Narrative Inquiry Conference A Field in the Making. For the second Irish Narrative Inquiry Conference (INIC) we draw on the 'field' as metaphor for text/context Maynooth University, . | |
2015 | Maurice Devlin and Hilary Tierney (2015) Youth on the Move? - 3rd Maynooth International Youth Studies Conference In what ways, and to what extent, is transformation or “movement” evident in the individual and collective lives of young people, in services, policies and professional practices for/with youth, or even in the concept of youth and its relation to other generations? What is changing within the field of youth studies itself? Maynooth University, . | |
2014 | Maurice Devlin (2014) Marking 30 years of youth policy The 30th anniversary of the Costello report coincides with the new National Policy Framework for Children and Young People, Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures, launched recently Maynooth University, . | |
2014 | Hilary Tierney (2014) Testing Times and Illuminating Journeys. Crystallising Narratives and Conceptualising Metaphors in Narrative Inquiry 1st Irish Conference on Narrative Inquiry Researching and Writing Irish Storyscapes Sligo Education Centre, Institute of Technology, 10 April 2014, . | |
2014 | Hilary Tierney and Cathryn Carpenter (2014) Models of Practice in Youth Work Education Improving the Effectiveness of Youth Work through High-Quality Youth Work Education Tallinn University, Estonia, . | |
2014 | Hilary Tierney (2014) Case Study 3: the Development of Competence Standards for the validation of practice in Youth Work QQI Peer Learning Activity: EU Commission EQF Advisory Group Limerick, ireland, . | |
2013 | Hilary Tierney and Maurice Devln [Organisers and Convenors] (2013) Professional Education and Training for Youth Work - An International Forum First International Youth Work Educators' Forum. 25th‐27th June 2013 Maynooth University, . | |
2013 | Hilary Tierney [Organiser and Convenor] (2013) TAG-PACYW Annual Conference 2013 ‘All in this Together? Connecting cultures, communities and young people’ The annual conference of the Professional Association of Lecturers in Community and Youth Work Maynooth University, . | |
2013 | Hilary Tierney (2013) ‘Testing times and illuminating journeys' FieldworkSupervisors Practice Narratives ‘All in this Together? Connecting cultures, communities and young people’ The annual conference of the Professional Association of Lecturers in Community and Youth Work Maynooth University, . | |
2012 | Hilary Tierney (2012) What’s 17,000km between friends? Youth Work In ireland and Australia Youth Affairs Council of Victoria [YACVIC] CONNECT FOR youth conferenceConference June 2012 Melbourne, Australia, . | |
2019 | Hilary Tierney (2019) Strengthening the potential of youth work in Eastern Europe Peer learning event on support to youth work development in Eastern Europe Tbilisi, Georgia, . | |
2019 | Hilary Tierney (2019) Bridges and ladders: stories from the ‘coalface’ to the ‘ivory tower’ and back XIV International Tool Fair - Youth Work 'Know-How' https://educationaltoolsportal.eu/en/articles/international_tool_fair_xiv Rovaniemi, Finland, . | |
2019 | Hilary Tierney and Anne Molloy (2019) European Academy of Youth Work Better Together Higher Education and NFE in partnership in youth work education in Ireland Slovenia, . | |
2016 | Maurice Devlin and Hilary Tierney (2016) Youth Work and Inequality: Discourse and Practice 3RD ISA FORUM 'THE FUTURES WE WANT:GLOBAL SOCIOLOGY AND THE STRUGGLES FOR A BETTER WORLD' 10-14 JULY 2016 Vienna, Austria, . | |
2016 | Hilary Tierney, Ciara Bradley (2016) 3rd Irish Narrative Inquiry Conference 10-11 March 2016 'Stories 'r Us' ‘Knowing Well and Knowing Responsibly’ – Navigating Unreliability in Narrative Inquiry NUI Galway, . | |
2015 | Hilary Tierney (2015) Rebels with a Cause A Field in the MakingThe Second Irish Narrative Inquiry Conference Maynooth University, . | |
2014 | Hilary Tierney (2014) Times Times and Illuminating Journeys Crystallising Narratives and Conceptualising Metaphors in Narrative Inquiry Troubling Narratives: Identity Matters. The Institute for Research in Citizenship and Applied Human Sciences, University of Huddersfield 19-20 June 2014 University of Huddersfield, . | |
2014 | Hilary Tierney (2014) Round Table on Development Education and Global Youth Work NYCI Revisiting ‘Standpoints’: Attitudes to Global Justice Among Young People and Youth Workers in Ireland https://www.youth.ie/articles/roundtable-on-development-education-global-youth-work-youth/ Dublin Castle, . | |
2014 | Hilary Tierney (2014) ‘Standpoints’: Attitudes to Global Justice Among Young People and Youth Workers in Ireland XVIII ISA World Congress of Sociology. Facing an Unequal World: Challenges for Sociology Yokohama, Japan, . | |
2013 | Hilary Tierney (2013) Practising Practice - Reflections on Fieldwork Supervisors Practice Narratives Commonwealth Conference on Education and Training of Youth Workers (CCETYW) Pretoria, South Africa, . | |
2013 | Hilary Tierney (2013) ‘Oh yeah that’s awful, that’s terrible. Somebody should do something about it Global Justice through Global Citizenship European Conference Brussels, Belgium, . | |
2011 | Hilary Tierney (2011) National Youth Council Conference, November, 2011 ‘Talking the Walk’ articulating youth work’s purpose DKIT, Dundalk, . |
Published Report
Year | Publication | |
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2010 | Maurice Devlin and Hilary Tierney (2010) Standpoints: Attitudes of young people & youth workers to development & global justice issues. NYCI, . [Link] | |
2004 | Hilary Tierney (2004) Community Development Consultancy Course (CDCC): Evaluation Report. Aontas, . | |
2023 | Benson-Olatunde, T.,; Devlin, M.,; Farrelly, A.,; Hambakachere, R.,; and Tierney, H. (2023) Looking out for, looking after and looking to each other. National Youth Council of Ireland, . |
Electronic Publication
Year | Publication | |
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2021 | Cleary, M.; Cullen, JM.; Furlong, N.; Janning, P. and Tierney, H. (2021) International Youth Work Unit 3: Funding, Strategy, Process. [Electronic Publication] [Link] | |
2021 | Cleary, M.; Cullen, JM.; Furlong, N.; Janning, P. and Tierney, H. (2021) (2021) International Youth Work Unit 2: Connecting, Learning, Participating. [Electronic Publication] [Link] | |
2021 | Cleary, M.; Cullen, JM.; Furlong, N.; Janning, P. and Tierney, H. (2021) International Youth Work Unit 1: What is International Youth Work? A European Programmes Perspective. [Electronic Publication] [Link] | |
2019 | Tierney, Hilary, Devlin, Maurice and Reynolds, Saoirse (2019) Communicating Youth Work Unit 1 - Uniqueness, Benefits and Outcomes. [Electronic Publication] [Link] | |
2019 | Tierney, Hilary, Devlin, Maurice and Reynolds, Saoirse (2019) Communicating Youth Work Unit 2 - Beyond Activities, What Youth Workers Do. [Electronic Publication] [Link] | |
2019 | Tierney, Hilary, Devlin, Maurice and Reynolds, Saoirse (2019) Communicating Youth Work Unit 3 - Getting the word out. [Electronic Publication] [Link] |
Guest Lectures
Year | Publication | |
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2019 | Hilary Tierney (2019) The long and winding road - youth work and professionalisation in Ireland. ECU Perth, WA. [Guest Lectures] [Link] |
Invited Lectures
Year | Publication | |
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2019 | Hilary Tierney (2019) Professional Youth Work Education and Training in MU: Intercultural Competence. [Invited Lectures] [Link] |
Video recording / TV
Year | Publication | |
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2018 | Hilary Tierney (2018) A quick tour of Irish Youth Work. Helsinki, Finland: [Video recording / TV] [Link] |
Workshops
Year | Publication | |
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2014 | Hilary Tierney and Alison Farrell (2014) Promoting and Sharing Your Youth Work Practice: A workshop to support youth work practitioner writing. [Workshops] [Link] |
Podcast
Year | Publication | |
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2020 | Hilary Tierney, Antti Korhonen and Ekaterina Sherer (2020) Youth workers: values and ethics. EU-CoE youth partnership MOOC Essentials of Youth Work. [Podcast] [Link] |
Webinar
Year | Publication | |
---|---|---|
2020 | Jessica Dunne, Alice Mary Higgins, Adam Lambe, Grace McManus, Dermot O'Brien, Cate O'Connor, Hilary Tierney (2020) How can the youth sector activate its power to accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) NYCI One world week 2020. [Webinar] [Link] | |
2020 | Axel Stammberger, Yuliya Stankevich ahd Hilary Tierney (2020) Current debates and the future of youth work. EU-CoE youth partnership MOOC Essentials of Youth Work. [Webinar] [Link] | |
2020 | HIlary Tierney and Noral Furlong (2020) Léargas Webinar Wednesdays: What Do You Need to Know about Non-formal Education in Erasmus+ Projects?. [Webinar] [Link] |
Book
Year | Publication | |
---|---|---|
2010 | Devlin, M. and Tierney, H. (2010) Standpoints: Attitudes of Young People and Youth Workers to Development and Global Justice Issues. : National Youth Council of Ireland. [Full-Text] |
Certain data included herein are derived from the © Web of Science (2024) of Clarivate. All rights reserved.
Professional Associations
Committees
Consultancy
Teaching Interests
As an educator of professional community workers and youth workers, I am committed to engaging students in experiential learning that integrates theory and practice in a process of reflective inquiry across the following themes:
Youth Work Theory and Practice
- Global Youth Work
- Digital Youth Work
- Informal and Non-formal Learning
Professional Practice
- Professionalism and Professionalisation
- Values and Ethics
- Professional Identity
- Reflective Practice
- Supervision
Research Skills
-Narrative and Participatory Approaches
- Reflexivity
- Writing Skills
- Relational Ethics
I have co-ordinated and taught across the BSocSc and MSocSc Community and Youth Work programmes over the years. I teach youth work, professional development and research at both undergraduate and post-graduate levels.
In 2020-21 co-ordinate the DSocSc programme and act as Academic Director on the NUI Certificates in Youth Work Studies, Digital Creativity in Youth Settings and Global Youth Work and Development Education which are offered in collaboration with sectoral partners CKLP, Camara Ireland and NYCI respectively.