September University of Galway appoints three new lecturers to Roinn na Gaeilge

University of Galway has announced the appointment of three new lecturers to Roinn na Gaeilge.

Dr Ailbhe Nic Giolla Chomhaill, Dr Colm Ó Cuaig and Dr Oisín Ó Muirthile have joined the University, bringing their highly-regarded expertise across folklore, Early Modern Irish, Celtic Studies and historical linguistics.

The new lecturers will contribute to teaching and research in Roinn na Gaeilge, including planning for a new MA sa Ghaeilge offering advanced study in Irish language, literature and culture. Further information on the MA sa Ghaeilge is available here.

Dr Ailbhe Nic Giolla Chomhaill joins Roinn na Gaeilge as Lecturer in Folklore, having previously served as Head of the Discipline of Irish at University of Limerick. She completed her PhD in Modern Irish at University of Galway in 2018. She was awarded a prestigious Fulbright Irish Scholar Award in 2023-24 to conduct folklore research at Indiana University Bloomington in the US.

Dr Nic Giolla Chomhaill is the author of An Chaora Ghlas agus Scéalta Eile as Seanadh Farracháin (2016). Her research interests include wonder tales narrated by female storytellers in Ireland and Scotland during the 20th century, folklore and ecology, emigration and the oral tradition.

Dr Colm Ó Cuaig joins as a specialist in Early Modern Irish (1200-1650 CE). He completed his PhD in Modern Irish at University of Galway in 2017 before joining the Royal Irish Academy, where he worked on the Historical Dictionary of Irish. He is co-editor of Dúchan: Bluirí ó Fhoclóir Mháirtín Uí Chadhain (2025).

His research interests include the digitisation of Irish-language resources and the use of artificial intelligence in the exploration and teaching of the Irish manuscript tradition.

Dr Oisín Ó Muirthile is a specialist in Celtic languages and historical linguistics. He was awarded a PhD from Harvard University for his research on the linguistic development of Irish Traveller Gammon-Cant (Shelta).

He has co-edited the Proceedings of the Harvard Celtic Colloquium (2022 and 2023). He joins as Lecturer in Celtic Studies, where he will teach and research Old Irish (700-900 CE) and medieval Irish literature.

Professor Rióna Ní Fhrighil, Head of Roinn na Gaeilge at University of Galway, said: “This recruitment exercise presents exciting opportunities to expand the intellectual reach and impact of our research and teaching activities. These new appointments to Roinn na Gaeilge underline University of Galway’s commitment to top-class scholarship and teaching in Irish language, literature and culture. We welcome our new colleagues and look forward to working with them on innovative and dynamic teaching and research projects.”

Watch the three new lecturers introduce themselves and discuss their research and teaching interests here.

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