Personal profile
Research Interests
Determinants/Correlates of Physical Activity and related Health; Physical Activity and Health Promotion, Physical Education and Public Health
Teaching Interests
Doctoral Education. Supervision and; assessment on Professional Doctorate in Human Performance and Innovation.
Biography
Ciaran Mac Donncha has more than 20 years of experience working with different age groups in the context of measurement, physical activity and health promotion. His primary research focus is on the determinants and correlates of physical activity and sedentary behaviour across the life-span and relevant data harmonisation. He graduated from the University of Limerick with a degree in Physical Education in 1991, he was awarded a Masters degree from the University of Bristol in Exercise and Health Sciences in 1992. He completed his Ph.D in 1998. Ciaran was appointed a lecturer in the Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Limerick in 1998. Since that time he has held the following posts of responsibility at the University: Programme Director, Head of Department and Assistant Dean of Research, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences. He was a member of the National Steering Group for Physical Activity in Ireland who prepared the first National Physical Activity Guidelines and the Draft Physical Activity Plan for Ireland. He has secured approx. 1.6m in research funding; produced in excess of 60 research outputs; supervised 8 PhDs and 6 MSc students to completion; currently supervising 5 PhD students, Joint WP leader and Chair of DEDIPAC Data Pooling taskforce (2013-2016) - EU Joint Programme Initiative (JPI) Determinants of Diet, Physical Activity Knowledge HUB (DEDIPAC); member and made a significant contribution to the national committee on physical activity guidelines and national physical activity strategic policy (2008-2012); currently work package leader EMPATIA Erasmus+ project (2018-2020) and expert contributor EU JPI Policy Evaluation Network. Has engaged in significant research grant and journal peer review activities.
Education/Academic qualification
PhD, Ph.D.
Award Date: 1 Jan 1998
Masters, M.Sc., University of Bristol
Award Date: 1 Jan 1992
Bachelor, B.A.
Award Date: 1 Jan 1991
External positions
Lecturer, University of Limerick
1 Sep 2003 → …
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
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Attention to principles of training and exercise prescription in systematic reviews of exercise for functional performance in older adults: an umbrella review
Morrison, R. T., Mannion, L. & MacDonncha, C., Dec 2026, In: Systematic Reviews. 15, 1, 72.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Adolescent Time Use and Cardiometabolic Health: A Cross-Sectional Compositional Analysis to Explore Associations Between 24-Hour Activity Behaviors and Biomarkers of Cardiometabolic Health
Hayes, G., Browne, L. D., Dowd, K. P., MacDonncha, C., Carson, B. P., Purtill, H., Herring, M. P., O’ Connor, E. M., O'Gorman, C. S. & Donnelly, A. E., Jun 2025, In: Journal of Adolescent Health. 76, 6, p. 1043-1054 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Definitions of determinants of physical activity behaviour: process and outcome of consensus from the DE-PASS expert group
Dygrýn, J., Brazo-Sayavera, J., Cruz, J., Gebremariam, M. K., Ribeiro, J. C., Capranica, L., MacDonncha, C. & Netz, Y., Dec 2025, In: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. 22, 1, 34.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
DE-PASS Best Evidence Statement (BESt): A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis on the Effectiveness of Trials on Device-Measured Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour and Their Determinants in Children Aged 5–12 Years: Determinants of Device-Measured Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour in Children: M. Khudair et al.
Khudair, M., Marcuzzi, A., Tempest, G. D., Ng, K., Peric, R., Bartoš, F., Maier, M., Brandes, M., Carlin, A., Ciaccioni, S., Cortis, C., Corvino, C., di Credico, A., Drid, P., Gallè, F., Izzicupo, P., Jahre, H., Kolovelonis, A., Kongsvold, A. & Kouidi, E. & 13 others, , Feb 2025, In: Sports Medicine. 55, 2, p. 419-458 40 p., e059202.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open Access -
Modifiable determinants of older adults’ physical activity and sedentary behavior in community and healthcare settings: a DE-PASS systematic review and meta-analysis
Ciaccioni, S., Compernolle, S., Lerfald, M., Palumbo, F., Fadda, F., Toma, G., Akpinar, S., Borodulin, K., Caglar, E., Cardon, G., Celen, M. C., Cieślińska-Świder, J., Cortis, C., Di Credico, A., Emirzeoğlu, M., Fusco, A., Gallardo Gómez, D., Hagen, L. M., Karaca, A. & Khudair, M. & 12 others, , Dec 2025, In: European Review of Aging and Physical Activity. 22, 1, 9.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access
Activities
- 2 Membership of committee
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National Physical Activity Steering Committee (External organisation)
MacDonncha, C. (Member)
2008Activity: Membership › Membership of committee
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Physical Education Association of Ireland (External organisation)
MacDonncha, C. (Member)
2001Activity: Membership › Membership of committee