Welcome to the Irish Centre for Nursing & Midwifery History, an academic centre of University College Dublin. Located at the UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery & Health Systems, the Centre was established in 2009 with grant funding from the Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences and is aligned with the Centre for the History of Medicine in Ireland.
The Centre is a locus for research and education in the history of nursing and midwifery in Ireland. Its aims are to facilitate and promote historical research and scholarship in nursing and midwifery and to develop and maintain a resource for historical research through the collection and preservation of historical materials. The Centre also aims to develop and disseminate new knowledge of nursing, midwifery and related healthcare history in Ireland.
A programme of research is being conducted at the Centre in a number of distinct areas, including a history of hospital sanitation in Ireland, and aspects of disciplinary development and nursing identity. A study of the history of the General Nursing Council for Ireland is also in preparation. Additional projects in nursing and midwifery history are planned, including institutional histories and histories of professional organisations.
The Centre provides opportunities for graduate research training, to Master's and PhD level, into aspects of nursing and midwifery history and welcomes inquiries from those interested in pursuing graduate research in association with the Centre. For further details contact Professor Gerard Fealy (gerard.fealy@ucd.ie) or Dr Martin McNamara (martin.mcnamara@ucd.ie) or Ruth Geraghty (ruth.geraghty@ucd.ie, Tel. 353 (0)1 716 6466).
At this time the Centre is developing a collection of archival materials that will become a national resource for students and researchers.
Gerard M Fealy
Centre Director