Dr Lorraine Crean

    Froebel Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education

    Assistant Professor / Lecturer in Language and Literacy

    School of Education
    3rd
    302A

    Biography

    Lorraine Crean is a lecturer in Language and Literacy at the Froebel Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education. Her areas of teaching include literacy, multilingual and plurilingual education and English as an additional language. Her research interests are in the area of literacy and language development, family language policy among migrant and transnational families, multilingual children's Irish language learning, and inclusive and special education.

    She qualified as a primary school teacher and has taught across all class levels within mainstream and special educational settings. She has developed particular expertise in teaching English as an additional language, teaching foreign languages in the primary school and promoting multilingual children's home language learning and development. Lorraine has been previously seconded to the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) and as an Advisor for Literacy, she contributed to the design and delivery of curriculum-based professional development for school leaders and teachers, and provided school support in the areas of literacy teaching and language learning. She also worked as an Education Officer in the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) where she contributed to the development of the Primary Language Curriculum (PLC) and associated Teacher Toolkit.

    Lorraine has carried out extensive research with multilingual children in various settings, including the home and school. She completed her PhD under the supervision of Professor Pádraig Ó Duibhir, DCU. This thesis examined the family language policy of Polish families in Ireland and a particular focus of the research was on children’s agentic capabilities regarding their language practices. She has held two postdoctoral positions in DCU researching the CPD needs of teachers for teaching children with special educational needs in Irish-medium schools and educational provision for children for whom English is an additional language in Irish-medium schools. She is a current member of the NCCA Primary Language Development Group and is currently involved in the development of the new Modern Foreign Languages curriculum specification for 3rd to 6th classes in primary schools.



    Research Interests

    Family language policy among migrant and transnational families.

    Language policy and language education.

    Heritage language maintenance and education.

    Irish language learning and multilingualism.

    Research Projects

    Title Role Description Start date End date Amount
    Soláthar oideachais do pháistí a bhfuil Béarla mar theanga bhreise acu sa chóras oideachais Ghaeltachta/lán-Ghaeilge | Educational Provision for Children for whom English is an Additional Language in Irish-medium and Gaeltacht Schools. Post-doctoral researcher Fuair Sealbhú, Lárionad Taighde DCU um Fhoghlaim agus Teagasc na Gaeilge, maoiniú ón gComhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) le tabhairt faoin taighde seo i mí Mheán Fómhair 2021. 01/09/2021 30/06/2022
    Forbairt Ghairmiúil Leanúnach do mhúinteoirí le cur ar a gcumas na tacaíochtaí cuí a chur ar fail do pháistí a bhfuil riachtanais speisialta oideachais (RSO) acu i scoileanna Gaeltachta agus lán-Ghaeilge. Post-doctoral researcher 01/09/2020 31/08/2021
    Our World of Languages Co-Investigator Early Childhood Ireland and Mother Tongues partnered to design, develop and implement the Our World of Languages (OWL) project , a small-scale evidenced based, arts-based storytelling pilot project. We conducted an independent evaluation of the design and implementation of the project. An evaluation report was written to inform future and further development of the OWL pilot project 03/01/2023 30/06/2023

    Book Chapter

    Year Publication
    2010 Connaughton-Crean, L (2010) 'Interculturalism in a multi-cultural society. The importance of home language maintenance for newcomer children' In: Education Matters. Dublin : Education Matters.

    Conference Publication

    Year Publication
    2012 Connaughton-Crean, L (2012) Creating multiple pathways to powerful literacy in challenging times. Proceedings of the 2011 and 2010 Annual Conference of The Reading Association of Ireland ’It’s my own good language’: Attitudes of minority language students in an Irish primary school to home language maintenance

    Conference Contribution

    Year Publication
    2023 Connaughton-Crean, Lorraine (2023) Literacy Association of Ireland Conference ‘It’s not enough for the family to do all the work’: Joint role of home, school, and society in celebrating and promoting linguistic diversity Dublin, .
    2023 Connaughton-Crean, L. & Pedrak, A. (2023) Multilingual Theories and Practices ‘It’s so much effort, but I think it’s worth it’: Parental perspectives of their children’s attendance at Polish complementary schools in Ireland Institute of Education, Dublin City University, Dublin, 20/04/2023-21/04/2023.
    2023 Crean, Lorraine (2023) International Froebel Society Conference ‘Sometimes it’s Polish and sometimes it’s English’: The role of child agency in family language policy formation among Polish-Irish children Maynooth University, 08/06/2023-10/06/2023.
    2022 Pedrak, A. & Connaughton-Crean, L. (2022) Multidisciplinary Approaches to Migration and Multilingualism Language Portraits and Reflective Language Diaries: An Insight into Polish-Irish Children’s Views on their own Bi-/multilingualism and Language Practices Department of English Studies and Department of French and European Studies, University of Cyprus, 22/10/2022-23/10/2022.
    2022 Ó Duibhir, P., Nic Aindriú, S., Connaughton-Crean, L., & Travers, J. (2022) Comhdháil Taighde Uile-Oileánda ar an Tumoideachas Cúrsa FGL san oideachas speisialta a fhorbairt do mhúinteoirí atá ag teagasc trí mheán na Gaeilge Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, 10/06/2022-.
    2022 Ní Dhiorbháin, A., Ó Duibhir, P., Connaughton-Crean, L. (2022) Comhdháil Taighde Uile-Oileánda ar an Tumoideachas It’s more the invisible benefits: Dearcthaí Tuismitheoirí Ilteangacha ar an Oideachas Lán-Ghaeilge Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, 10/06/2022-11/06/2022.
    2021 Connaughton-Crean, L. (2021)  International Symposium on Bilingualism ISB13 ‘I feel both Polish and Irish’: Family language policy and hybrid Polish-Irish identity construction within Polish migrant families in Ireland Warsaw, Poland, 09/07/2021-14/07/2021.
    2021 Connaughton-Crean, L.; Andrews, S.; Ó Duibhir, P. & Travers, J. (2021) Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI) What do teachers in Irish-medium schools want to know more about in the area of special education?  Online, .
    2019 Connaughton-Crean, L. (2019) Early Childhood Ireland Annual Conference Home-School Connections: Bilingual language practices and child agency Croke Park, Dublin, 12/04/2019-.
    2019 Connaughton-Crean, L. & Ó-Duibhir, P. (2019) Approaches to Migration, Language and Identity ‘I’m happy I’m doing this, but it’s difficult’: The role of Polish supplementary schools in language maintenance and family language and family language policy formation among Polish families living in Ireland Essen, Germany, 18/09/2019-20/09/2019.
    2019 Forster, A. & Connaughton-Crean, L. (2019) Negotiating Multiple Literacies and Culture. Make Literacy Meaningful How multiple cultures and literacies are negotiated in the Irish curriculum from early years through to 6th class in primary school National College of Ireland, Dublin, 06/03/2019-.
    2018 Connaughton-Crean, L. & Ó Duibhir, P. (2018) Language, Identity and Education in Multilingual Contexts 18 Family Language Policy of Polish migrant families in Ireland- when home and school connect Marino Institute of Education, 03/02/2018-.
    2018 Connaughton-Crean, L. (2018) Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI) ‘To become bilingual’: Challenges and choices faced by Polish migrant families in Ireland in the negotiation of family language policy Sligo, 13/04/2018-.
    2017 Connaughton-Crean, L. (2017) The 2nd Symposium of Language Policy in the Family, the Preschool and the School. Heading for the future The Family Language Policy of Polish immigrant families in Ireland – Issues of ideology, practice and management University of Jyvaskyla, Finland, 05/04/2017-07/04/2017.
    2017 Connaughton-Crean, L. & Ó-Duibhir, P. (2017) International Symposium on Bilingualism ISB11 Family Language Policy of Polish immigrant families in Ireland: when families and society connect University of Limerick, 13/06/2017-.
    2016 Connaughton-Crean, L. (2016) Politiques Linguistiques Familiales et Processus de Transmissions Intergénérationnelles en Contexte Migratoire: Questionnements Méthodologiques et Notionnels Family Language Policy of Polish Immigrant Parents and Children in Ireland – Issues of Practice, Ideology and Management Angers, France, 26/05/2016-27/05/2016.
    2011 McDaid, R., O’Toole, B. & Connaughton, L. (2011) DICE Conference My Language – Pride in the skin I’m in St Patrick's College, Drumcondra, .
    2011 Connaughton-Crean, L. (2011) Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI) Attitudes of minority language children to home language maintenance Rathmines, Dublin, 15/04/2011-16/04/2011.
    2011 Connaughton-Crean, L. (2011) Reading Association of Ireland (RAI) ‘It’s my own good language’: Attitudes of minority language children in an Irish primary school to home language maintenance Dublin, .

    Peer Reviewed Journal

    Year Publication
    2025 Connaughton-Crean, L; Ní Dhiorbháin, A; Ó Duibhir, P (2025) '“Everything Starts with Attitudes”: Exploring Language Ideologies and Attitudes of the Polish Community in Ireland Towards Irish and Irish-Medium Education'. Journal of Language, Identity, and Education, . [Link] [DOI]
    2024 Connaughton-Crean, L.; Ó Duibhir, P. (2024) '‘We are always planning trips to Poland’: the influence of transnational family life on the family language policy of Polish-speaking families in Ireland'. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, . [Link] [DOI]
    2023 Nic Aindriú, S; Connaughton-Crean, L; Ó Duibhir, P & Travers, J (2023) 'The Design and Content of an Online Continuous Professional Development Course in Special Education for Teachers in Irish Immersion Primary and Post-Primary Schools'. Education Sciences, 13 (3). https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13030281
    2023 Ní Dhiorbháin, A.; Nic Aindriú, S.; Connaughton-Crean, L.; Ó Duibhir, P. (2023) 'It’s more the invisible benefits–multilingual parents’ experiences of immersion education and their reasons for choosing immersion'. Language and Education, . [Link] [DOI]
    2022 Nic Aindriú S.; Ó Duibhir P.; Connaughton-Crean L.; Travers J. (2022) 'The CPD Needs of Irish-Medium Primary and Post-Primary Teachers in Special Education'. Education Sciences, 12 (12). [DOI]
    2017 Connaughton-Crean, L & Ó Duibhir, P (2017) 'Home language maintenance and development among first generation migrant children in an Irish primary school: An investigation of attitudes'. Journal of Home Language Research, . [Link] [Full-Text]

    Published Report

    Year Publication
    2023 Ní Dhiorbháin, A; Connaughton-Crean, L. & Ó Duibhir, P. (2023) Soláthar an Oideachais Lán-Ghaeilge agus Ghaeltachta do Pháistí a bhfuil Béarla mar Theanga Bhreise acu. COGG, . [Link]
    2022 Nic Aindriú S.; Connaughton-Crean L.; Ó Duibhir P. & Travers J. (2022) Ag tacú le daltaí a bhfuil riachtanais speisialta oideachais acu i scoileanna Gaeltachta agus lánGhaeilge. An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta, . [Link]

    Curriculum design / Support materials

    Year Publication
    2014 Connaughton-Crean, L. & Ó Duibhir, P. (2014) Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL). [Curriculum design / Support materials]
    2014 Connaughton-Crean, L. & Ó Duibhir, P. (2014) Teaching for a transfer of skills across languages. [Curriculum design / Support materials]
    Certain data included herein are derived from the © Web of Science (2025) of Clarivate. All rights reserved.

    Professional Associations

    Description Function From / To
    Literacy Association of Ireland Member 01/09/2010 -
    Maynooth University Social Sciences Institute (MUSSI) Member 19/02/2024 -

    Honors and Awards

    Date Title Awarding Body
    01/01/2018 The Teaching Council Research Support Framework The Teaching Council
    01/01/2017 INTO Research Award INTO
    01/01/2010 Léargas Language Label Award Léargas

    Committees

    Committee Function From / To
    NCCA Primary Language Development Group Member (IFUT Representative) 21/03/2023 -
    Universal Design for Learning International Symposium Member of the Organising Committee 08/01/2024 -

    Employment

    Employer Position From / To
    Maynooth University Assistant Professor 16/09/2024 -
    Department of Education Primary School Teacher 01/09/2002 - 30/06/2022
    Professional Development Services for Teachers (PDST) Advisor 01/09/2014 - 30/06/2016
    National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) Education Officer 01/09/2017 - 31/08/2019

    Consultancy

    Client Description
    OIDE Provision of input to members of the OIDE language teams on the topic of Transfer of Skills across Languages
    National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) Data analysis and contribution to drafting reports based on consultations on draft curricula specifications

    Editorial / Academic Reviews

    Amount Role From / To
    Language and Education Reviewer -
    Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development Reviewer -
    Teanga Reviewer -
    Frontiers in Psychology Reviewer -
    Current Issues in Language Planning Reviewer -

    Teaching Interests

    Literacy

    Language studies

    Language acquisition

    Multilingualism and plurilingualism