Rachel Murphy

A key focus of my research is the history of landholding in Ireland during the early modern and modern periods. This includes the history of the landed estate (landed elites, servants, agents, tenant farmers, the roles of women, agricultural labourers and vagrants). Other areas that interest me include the history of family, local history, urban history and environmental history.I frequently use digital tools and technologies to facilitate and present research. Areas such as spatial humanities and digital history are of interest to me, in particular the use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS). As demonstrated by some of the projects I have worked on, I enjoy taking an interdisciplinary and collaborative approach to research, as well as conducting individual research.

I currently teach Irish history to undergraduates. I was course director of the MA History of Family for 6 years. In the past I have lectured on the MA in Local History and the MA in Irish Literature and Film at University College Cork.

I have been lecturing in the School of History and Geography at the University of Limerick since 2018. I am currently teaching modern Irish history to undergraduates, and was previously course director of the MA History of Family.

I am Chair of the Irish Historic Towns Atlas Digital Working Group, and a member of the National Library of Ireland's Genealogy and Heraldry committee. Along with colleagues Dr Ciara Breathnach and Prof. Tiziana Margaria I was a recipient of the University of Limerick Team Teaching Award 2023, and the AHSS Team Teaching Award 2023. I hold a Grad. Dip. Teaching, Learning and Scholarship from the University of Limerick (2020).

I hold a BA (Hons) in English Language and Literature from the University of Oxford and an MA in History of Family from the University of Limerick. I completed a PhD in History and Digital Humanities at University College Cork (UCC) in 2017. During this time I also completed a Higher Diploma in Geographical Information Systems.

Following my PhD I worked as a postdoctoral researcher on the interdisciplinary project Deep Maps: West Cork Coastal Cultures led by Prof. Clare Connolly and Prof. Rob McAllen (UCC). From August 2020 to August 2023 I was postdoctoral researcher on Death and Burial Data: Ireland 1864-1922 project led by Prof. Ciara Breathnach (UCC). Both projects were funded by the Irish Research Council.

Academic Grants and Awards

• Awarded Heritage Council Stewardship Fund 2023 grant with co-investigator, Sarah Gearty (Irish Historic Towns Atlas project)andnbsp;for Placing our heritage: creating a digital atlas of the city of Cork.
• Awarded funding from National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education for Enhanced Engagement with Special Collections and Archives, with Kirsten Mulrennan, University of Limerick Special Collections (2020).
• Awarded Heritage Council funding to create a Digital Atlas of Fethard with Fethard Historical Society (2018).
• Awarded a 4-year funded PhD studentship (PRTLI 5 2011-2015).