Dr Mary Leenane

    Faculty of Arts and Humanities, International, Irish Cultural Heritage

    Lecturer/Assistant Professor
    Associate Dean for Internationalisation, Faculty of Arts and Humanities

    (01) 474 7174

    Biography

    I am a member of the School of Celtic Studies and lecture on various aspects of early Irish culture, especially literature, in the Centre for Irish Cultural Heritage (Ionad na hÉigse) and the Department of Adult and Community Education. I played a leading role in the setting up of the Centre in 2013 including the design and delivery of a suite of innovative interdisciplinary programmes of study on aspects of early Irish cultural heritage.

    I was awarded an IRC scholarship for my Ph.D. studies on the role and representation of Cú Chulainn in Old and Middle Irish saga material. I am interested in the culture and literature of medieval Ireland, more specifically, on the creation and development of characters and associated heroic biographical texts. My research also focuses on the landscape and archaeological evidence, including more specific sites, such as, Tara, Emain Macha etc, as an underpinning component of these narratives and their central figures. I contributed to the interdisciplinary Black Pig’s Dyke Regional Research Project (2014). I am presently involved in outreach research activities concerning the ecclesiastical foundations of North Tipperary. I am committed to identifying and creating innovative methods of engaging students and the wider public with Irish cultural heritage.

    Research Interests

    I have completed a two-volume research piece on the role and representation of Cú Chulainn in the pre-Norman period. The first volume examines Cú Chulainn’s heroic biography, while the second, offers a thematic appraisal of his characterisation. This material is currently being prepared for publication. The scope of this research has extended to include a broader study of heroic biographical material particularly within the context of character development.
    I was a member of a team of academics who analysed a series of linear earthworks in the north midlands as part of the Black Pig’s Dyke Regional Research Project (2014). Further material on the significance of pigs in early Irish literature, more specifically relating to their association with kingship is being prepared for publication. I also played a leading role in securing research funding to hold a series of seminars providing an ancient perspective on Irish design and craft activities as part of the Irish Design 2015 initiative.  
    I am presently involved in an outreach interdisciplinary research project assessing the ecclesiastical foundations at Terryglass, and nearby Lorrha, in North Tipperary and their scribal traditions. 

    Book

    Year Publication
    2014 Mary Leenane (2014) The role of Cú Chulainn in Old and Middle Irish narrative literature with particular reference to tales belonging to the Ulster Cycle (2 vols). Maynooth University: Unpublished Ph.D. thesis.

    Other Journal

    Year Publication
    2013 Mary Leenane (2013) 'Cú Chulainn’s ríastrad and related contortions' Emania, 21 :15-19.

    Conference Publication

    Year Publication
    2021 Mary Leenane (2021) Ulidia 5: Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on the Ulster Cycle of Tales, Maynooth Tracing Cú Chulainn’s characterisation in the Ulster Cycle
    2021 Mary Leenane (2021) Proceedings of the Harvard Celtic Colloquium 39 . In: M. Boucher-Durand, E. Gipson, S. Parker and N. Thyr eds. Visualising the elite in early Irish society
    2018 Mary Leenane (2018) Proceedings of the Second European Symposium in Celtic Studies, Prifysgol Bangor University . In: K. Raimund and K. Möller eds. Character creation in the Ulster Cycle Hagen/Westf,
    2013 Leenane M (2013) Ulidia 3: Proceedings of the Third International Conference on the Ulster Cycle of Tales . In: Toner G. and Mac Mathúna S eds. Cú Chulainn and the Otherworld Berlin,
    2008 Mary Leenane (2008) Imbas The manifestations of physical prowess in relation to the warrior hero par excellence of the Ulster Cycle

    Conference Contribution

    Year Publication
    2021 Mary Leenane (2021) Deathly sounds in early Irish literature 34th Irish Conference of Medievalists Queen's University Belfast, .
    2021 Mary Leenane (2021) The Senses in Medieval and Renaissance Europe: Hearing and Auditory Perception, FRMSI Sounds of death in early Irish literature Trinity College Dublin, .
    2019 Mary Leenane (2019) Functional or symbolic? A consideration of cloak and brooch wearing in early Irish literature 41st California Celtic Conference University of California, Berkeley, .
    2019 Mary Leenane (2019) Visualising the elite in early Irish society 39th Harvard Celtic Colloquium Harvard University, .
    2019 Mary Leenane (2019) XVIth International Congress of Celtic Studies Making clothing meaningful in early Irish literature Bangor University, .
    2015 Grogan, E; Leenane, M; McCormack, B (2015) Cracking the code: early manuscripts at Maynooth University Maynooth University Teaching and Learning Showcase Maynooth, 10/06/2015-10/06/2015.
    2019 Mary Leenane (2019) 33rd Irish Conference of Medievalists Insinuating royalty in early Irish literature University College Cork, .
    2018 Mary Leenane (2018) Ulidia VI Fíanaigecht III Positioning characters in the Ulster Cycle Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Isle of Skye, .
    2018 Mary Leenane (2018) 32nd Irish Conference of Medievalists Beauty and the Beast: the portrayal of Cú Chulainn University College Cork, .
    2017 Mary Leenane (2017) Second European Symposium in Celtic Studies, 31 July - 03 August 2017 Character creation in the Ulster Cycle Bangor, Gwynedd, .
    2016 Mary Leenane (2016) Fifth International Conference on the Ulster Cycle Tracing Cú Chulainn’s characterisation in the Ulster Cycle Maynooth University, .
    2016 Mary Leenane (2016) Mythic Links Autumn Lecture Series The Hero Journey of Cú Chulainn- from Early Irish Literature to the GPO United Arts Club, .
    2015 Mary Leenane (2015) Hill of Tara Lecture series Swine, kings and the ‘royal’ site of Tara Tara, .
    2015 Mary Leenane (2015) XV International Congress of Celtic Studies Pigs, kingship and the Otherworld University of Glasgow, .
    2015 Mary Leenane (2015) Terryglass and Kilbarron Historical Society - lectures Book of Leinster and Terryglass Terryglass, .
    2011 Mary Leenane (2011) XIV International Congress of Celtic Studies Cú Chulainn’s ríastrad and related contortions Maynooth University, .
    2009 Mary Leenane (2009) Third International Conference on the Ulster Cycle Cú Chulainn and the Otherworld University of Ulster, .
    2008 Mary Leenane (2008) Power in the Middle Ages Conference The manifestations of physical prowess in relation to the warrior hero par excellence of the Ulster Cycle National University of Galway, .
    2021 Eoin Grogan and Mary Leenane (2021) Monuments of Stone: The High Crosses at Kells Conference in honour of Anne Gallagher Maynooth University, .

    Published Report

    Year Publication
    2014 O’Drisceoil, C., Leenane, M., Davis, S., Fitzgibbon, B. and Teehan, M (2014) The Black Pig’s Dyke Regional Project Report (2 vols.). Kilkenny, .
    2021 Grogan, E. and Leenane, M. (2021) Hands on with High Crosses. Maynooth University, .

    Book Chapter

    Year Publication
    2023 Leenane, M. (2023) 'An initial consideration of some landscape elements in the Ulster Cycle' In: Irisleabhar Mhá Nuad. Maigh Nuad : An Sagart.
    Certain data included herein are derived from the © Web of Science (2024) of Clarivate. All rights reserved.

    Professional Associations

    Description Function From / To
    Celtic Studies Association of North America Member -
    The Medieval Academy of America Member -
    American Society for Irish Medieval Studies Member -
    DISTAFF Member 08/05/2024 - 20/05/2024

    Honors and Awards

    Date Title Awarding Body
    01/01/2014 Black Pigs Dyke Regional Project County Council & Irish Heritage Council
    01/01/2015 Five Ages of Creativity and Design Irish Design 2015
    01/01/2004 IRCHSS research scholarship IRCHSS

    Committees

    Committee Function From / To
    Faculty Teaching and Learning Member -
    Academic Council International Committee Member -
    Academic Council Teaching and Learning Faculty Representative -
    Course Management Team, BA Local Studies Member -
    FACSP Associate Dean 08/05/2023 - 08/05/2028