Meet the Team
The current Steering Committee of the Oral History Network of Ireland are:
Sam Manning is a social and cultural historian interested in the history of leisure and popular culture in twentieth-century Britain and Ireland. He has used oral history to write a book and several articles on the history of cinema-going. He is particularly keen on using oral testimony to engage public audiences and local communities.
Arlene Crampsie is an historical geographer in the School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Policy, UCD. Her research interests encompass the social, cultural and political geographies of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in Ireland.
After completing a PhD using documentary sources, she began work on the GAA Oral History Project where she was involved in the collection, cataloguing and digitisation of oral histories and developing the archival and IT specifications for the project’s digital archive and database.
She is particularly interested in creating accessible oral histories and the ethical challenges which emerge through this endeavour. Arlene is also interested in increasing awareness of oral history as both a teaching resource and as a research methodology. As such she has endeavoured to include oral history in her classes and has given lectures to academic and general audiences on the importance of oral history.
Sean O’Connell is Professor of Modern Irish and British social history at Queen’s University Belfast. He has been an oral historian for almost 30 years. He is an editor of Oral History and is a director of QUOTE Hub, Queen’s University’s oral history collective.
Matthew O’Brien is a PhD candidate at UCD’s School of History researching Black Power grassroots activism in twentieth-century Chicago. His research incorporates oral history interviews with former members of the Black Panther Party, and other political activists. Matthew’s research has been funded by both the Irish Research Council and the Irish Fulbright Commission. He is the current Treasurer of the Oral History Network of Ireland.
Sara Goek is program manager at the American Library Association. She holds a PhD in History/Digital Arts and Humanities and an MA in Historical Research from University College Cork, and a BA in History and Irish Studies from Boston College.
Thérèse McIntyre is a PhD Candidate researching songs, ballads, and social memory. In 2016, Thérèse worked on the ‘1916 Song Project’ as part of the programme of national commemorations. In 2014 she won the ‘World’s Best Radio Programme in Education’ at the New York Festival for Radio for the series ‘Herosongs’ that was based upon her doctoral research. Thérèse also is an avid supporter of all things GAA/LGFA and coaches U12 Ladies’ at her local club.
Regina Fitzpatrick the Training and Advocacy Officer for the Oral History Network of Ireland. She is also a founding director and former Chair of OHNI. As an oral historian on the GAA Oral History Project (2008-12), she contributed to the design, implementation and delivery of one of the largest sports oral history projects worldwide. She has also carried out oral history interviewing, consultancy and training for a number of local authorities, third level institutions and local organisations. She is particularly interested in the ethical practice of oral history.
Penny Johnston is a heritage professional, working in oral history and archaeology. She worked with the Cork Folklore Project during her a PhD in the Department of Folklore in UCC and she is the Membership Officer of the Oral History Network of Ireland.
Adrian Roche is an independent historical researcher and interpretive content writer who has worked on a range of museum and exhibition projects, and conducted a variety of oral history projects around the country. He is a founding director and formerly both Chair and Treasurer of the Oral History Network of Ireland, and has carried out oral history training for local authorities and community groups.