Eamon Cleary Professor of Irish Studies
Contact details
Tel +64 3 479 8634
Email sonja.tiernan@otago.ac.nz
Office G01 Ground Floor
99 Albany Street
Dunedin
Mail
Centre for Irish and Scottish Studies
University of Otago
PO Box 56
Dunedin 9054
New Zealand
Sonja Tiernan is the Eamon Cleary Professor of Irish Studies and Co-Director of the Centre for Irish and Scottish Studies. Originally from Dublin, she studied at University College Dublin and has held visiting fellowships at the National Library of Ireland; Trinity College Dublin; Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies, University of Notre Dame; School of Irish Studies, Concordia University Canada and most recently she was awarded a Moore Institute visiting fellowship at the National University of Ireland, Galway. Professor Tiernan has received funding from prestigious sources in support of her research including from the Irish Research Council, Royal Irish Academy, National Endowment of the Humanities USA and the National University of Ireland.
Professor Tiernan’s research interests are primarily modern Irish history with a focus on social and gender politics. She has published widely in these areas including her most recent monograph, Irish Women's Speeches Vol II: A Rich Chorus of Voices in November 2022. This is the sister companion to the best-selling book, Irish Women’s Speeches: Voices that Rocked the System. These anthologies showcase the stirring contributions that Irish women have made both to modern Irish society and to global development.
Academic qualifications
MA(Hons); PhD (University College Dublin)
Expertise
Modern Irish history; gender and women’s history; labour and social reform movements; the history of crime and punishment.
Research supervision
I welcome research proposals in the field of modern Irish history particularly in the areas of social reform movements; public history and commemoration; women’s history; the history of sexuality in Ireland; the rebellious years and Irish independence. I would be particularly keen to hear from students interested in researching historical connections between Ireland and New Zealand, broadly conceived.
Current postgraduate students
- Claire Barton (PhD in Music), “The History of Women Singers and Singing Teachers in Dunedin, New Zealand.”
- Wendy Parkins (PhD in Creative Practice), “An Idle Woman: The Lives of Frances Elliot.”
Teaching
- GEND 402 Sexual Politics in Modern Ireland
- HIST 242 Histories of Crime and Punishment
- HIST 430 Special Topic: Commemorating Irish History
Editorial and advisory responsibilities
- Committee Member Irish Studies Association of Australia and New Zealand
Visit the ISAANZ website - Evaluator for the Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme
Visit here for more information on the Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme - Evaluator for the Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme
Visit here for more information on the Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme - Advisory Council Member of the British Association of Irish Studies
Visit the BAIS website - Editorial board member of Breac: a digital journal of Irish Studies
Visit a digital journal of Irish studies website - I act as a peer reviewer for the following:
- Irish Historical Studies
- History Research journal
- University College Dublin (UCD) Press
Current research
Sonja is co-editor on two volumes in preparation:
- Jennifer Redmond, Sonja Tiernan and Mary McAuliffe (eds) Sexual Politics in Modern Ireland Volume Two: A Reader under contract with Indiana University Press for publication in 2023.
- John Cunningham, Francis Devine and Sonja Tiernan (eds) Labour & Class in Irish History: Essays to Celebrate Fifty Years of the Irish Labour History Society, 1973-2023, contracted by Umiskin Press to be published in May 2023 as part of the Irish Labour History Society’s Fiftieth Anniversary celebrations.
Externally funded research:
Please see the Centre for Irish and Scottish Studies Research page for details on Sonja’s most recent externally funded research project – Irish in Aotearoa New Zealand funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Ireland.
Publications
Tiernan, S. (2022). Irish women's speeches (Vol. II): A rich chorus of voices. Dublin, Ireland: University College Dublin Press, 300p.
Tiernan, S. (2022). 'A political nonentity with infants, criminals, and lunatics': First wave feminism in Ireland 1872-1922. In J. Atwal, C. Breathnach & S.-A. Buckley (Eds.), Gender and history: Ireland, 1852-1922. (pp. 234-247). Abingdon, UK: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003164944-23
Tiernan, S. (2021). Irish women's speeches: Voices that rocked the system. Dublin, Ireland: University College Dublin Press, 370p.
Tiernan, S. (2020). History of marriage equality in Ireland: A social revolution begins. Manchester, UK: Manchester University Press, 192p.
Tiernan, S. (2012). Eva Gore-Booth: An image of such politics. Manchester, UK: Manchester University Press, 296p.
Tiernan, S. (2022). Irish women's speeches (Vol. II): A rich chorus of voices. Dublin, Ireland: University College Dublin Press, 300p.
Authored Book - Research
Tiernan, S. (2022). 'A political nonentity with infants, criminals, and lunatics': First wave feminism in Ireland 1872-1922. In J. Atwal, C. Breathnach & S.-A. Buckley (Eds.), Gender and history: Ireland, 1852-1922. (pp. 234-247). Abingdon, UK: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003164944-23
Chapter in Book - Research
Tiernan, S. (2021). Irish women's speeches: Voices that rocked the system. Dublin, Ireland: University College Dublin Press, 370p.
Authored Book - Research
Tiernan, S. (2020). History of marriage equality in Ireland: A social revolution begins. Manchester, UK: Manchester University Press, 192p.
Authored Book - Research
Tiernan, S. (2012). Eva Gore-Booth: An image of such politics. Manchester, UK: Manchester University Press, 296p.
Authored Book - Research
Tiernan, S. (2021). "No conscription now! Or after the harvest": Remembering women and anti-conscription in Ireland and England. In O. Frawley (Ed.), Women and the decade of commemorations. (pp. 107-123). Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press.
Chapter in Book - Research
Tiernan, S. (Ed.). (2015). The political writings of Eva Gore-Booth. Manchester, UK: Manchester University Press, 264p.
Edited Book - Research
Tiernan, S., & McAuliffe, M. (Eds.). (2009). Sapphists and sexologists: Histories of sexualities: Volume 2. Newcastle upon Tyne, UK: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 260p.
Edited Book - Research
McAuliffe, M., & Tiernan, S. (Eds.). (2008). Tribades, tommies, and transgressives: Histories of sexualities: Vol. 1. Newcastle, UK: Cambridge Scholars, 350p.
Edited Book - Research
Tiernan, S. (Ed.). (2018). Eva Gore-Booth: Collected Poems. Galway, Ireland: Arlen House, 440p.
Edited Book - Other
Tiernan, S. (Ed.). (2010). Fiametta: A previously unpublished play by Eva Gore-Booth. Lewiston, NY: Edwin Mellen Press, 132p.
Edited Book - Other
Tiernan, S. (2019). Sesame Street, drag queens and religion: The introduction of marriage for same-sex couples in Ireland. In S. Ryan (Ed.), Marriage and the Irish: A miscellany. (pp. 258-260). Dublin, Ireland: Wordwell.
Chapter in Book - Research
Tiernan, S. (2016). 'The revolt of daughters?' The Gore-Booth sisters. In A. Hayes & M. Meagher (Eds.), A century of progress? Irish women reflect. (pp. 65-85). Dublin, Ireland: Arlen House.
Chapter in Book - Research
Tiernan, S. (2016). Countess Markievicz and Eva Gore-Booth. In E. Biagini & D. Mulhall (Eds.), The shaping of modern Ireland: A centenary assessment. (pp. 185-197). Sallins, UK: Irish Academic Press.
Chapter in Book - Research
Tiernan, S. (2014). ‘Challenging the headship of man’: Militant suffragism and the Irish Citizen. In M. O'Brien & F. M. Larkin (Eds.), Periodicals & Journalism in Twentieth-Century Ireland. (pp. 61-74). Dublin, Ireland: Four Courts Press.
Chapter in Book - Research
Tiernan, S. (2012). Undercover of The Irish Housewife: A woman's magazine for a new age. In A. Hayes (Ed.), Hilda Tweedy and the Irish Housewives Association: Links in the chain... (pp. 105-116). Dublin, Ireland: Arlen House.
Chapter in Book - Research
Tiernan, S. (2010). Sligo co-operative movements (1895-1905): The birth of an Irish political activist. In S. Alcobia-Murphy, L. Mulligan & D. Wall (Eds.), Founder to shore: Cross-currents in Irish and Scottish Studies. (pp. 189-196). Aberdeen, UK: Aberdeen University Press.
Chapter in Book - Research
Tiernan, S. (2009). "It should not be so easy to construct a man:" A history of female to male transsexuality in the journal Urania. In S. Tiernan & M. McAuliffe (Eds.), Sapphists and sexologists: Histories of sexualities: Vol. 2. (pp. 56-71). Newcastle upon Tyne, UK: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
Chapter in Book - Research
Tiernan, S. (2008). "No measures of emancipation or equality will suffice": Eva Gore-Booth's revolutionary feminism in the journal Urania. In S. O'Connor & C. C. Shepard (Eds.), Women, social and cultural change in twentieth century Ireland" Dissenting voices? (pp. 166-182). Newcastle, UK: Cambridge Scholars.
Chapter in Book - Research
Tiernan, S. (2008). "Engagements dissolved": Eva Gore-Booth, Urania and the radical challenge to marriage. In M. McAuliffe & S. Tiernan (Eds.), Tribades, tommies, and transgressives: Histories of sexualities: Vol. 1. (pp. 128-144). Newcastle, UK: Cambridge Scholars.
Chapter in Book - Research
Tiernan, S. (2015). Fennell, Nuala. In J. McGuire & J. Quinn (Eds.), Dictionary of Irish biography. Cambridge University Press. Retrieved from https://dib.cambridge.org/viewReadPage.do?articleId=a9736
Chapter in Book - Research
Tiernan, S. (2014). Levine, June. In J. McGuire & J. Quinn (Eds.), Dictionary of Irish biography. Cambridge University Press. Retrieved from https://dib.cambridge.org/viewReadPage.do?articleId=a9670
Chapter in Book - Research
Tiernan, S. (2011). "The women’s suffrage movement among trade unionists": Eva Gore-Booth. In T. K. Wayne (Ed.), Feminist Writings from ancient times to the modern world: A global sourcebook and history: Vol. 1. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO. [Encyclopaedia/Dictionary Entry].
Chapter in Book - Research
Tiernan, S. (2011). Challenging presumptions of heterosexuality: Eva Gore-Booth, a biographical case study. Historical Reflections / Réflexions Historiques, 37(2), 58-71. doi: 10.3167/hrrh.2011.370205
Journal - Research Article
Tiernan, S. (2010). Tabloid sensationalism or revolutionary feminism? The first-wave feminist movement in an Irish women’s periodical. Irish Communications Review, 12(1), 6.
Journal - Research Article
Tiernan, S. (2009). "A zealous Catholic and notorious trouble-maker": The Gormanston Papers in the National Library of Ireland. Ríocht na Midhe, XX, 171-181.
Journal - Research Article
Tiernan, S. (2009). Hidden in plain sight: Uncovering the history of Meath women. Ríocht na Midhe, XXI, 93-109.
Journal - Research Article
Tiernan, S. (2012). In defence of barmaids: the Gore-Booth sisters take on Winston Churchill. History Ireland, 20(3), 34-36. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/41507249
Journal - Research Other
Tiernan, S. (2011). Hilda Tweedy: The original desperate housewife? History Ireland, 19(6), 6-7.
Journal - Research Other
Tiernan, S. (2020). [Review of the book Fearless woman: Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, feminism and the Irish Revolution]. Irish Historical Studies, 44(166), 394-395. doi: 10.1017/ihs.2020.54
Journal - Research Other
Tiernan, S. (2019). [Review of the book Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, suffragette and Sinn Féiner: Her memoirs and political writings]. English Historical Review, 134(568), 747-749. doi: 10.1093/ehr/cez123
Journal - Research Other
Tiernan, S. (2019). [Review of the book Markievicz: Prison letters & rebel writings]. Women's History Review, 28(3), 520-521. doi: 10.1080/09612025.2019.1576287
Journal - Research Other
Tiernan, S. (2018). [Review of the book Markievicz: A most outrageous rebel]. Canadian Journal of Irish Studies / Revue canadienne d’études irlandaises, 41, 323-325. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/26435242
Journal - Research Other
Tiernan, S. (2018). [Review of the book Winning the vote for women: The Irish Citizen newspaper and the suffrage movement in Ireland]. Irish Historical Studies, 42(162), 381-382. doi: 10.1017/ihs.2018.54
Journal - Research Other
Tiernan, S. (2015). [Review of the book Ada English: Patriot and psychiatrist]. Irish Historical Studies, 39(156), 708-709. doi: 10.1017/ihs.2015.44
Journal - Research Other
Tiernan, S. (2013). A city in conflict. Saothar, 38, 131-133. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/24897898
Journal - Research Other
Tiernan, S. (2011). [Review of the book Rosamond Jacob: Third person singular]. Saothar, 36, 113-114. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/23200054
Journal - Research Other
Tiernan, S. (2018). Markievicz written out of Constitution by de Valera: De Valera’s redrafting of the Constitution in 1937 wiped out record of successes made by ‘people’s countess’. Irish Times, (15 August). [Commentary].
Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles
Tiernan, S. (2017). A stalwart lady of the new Ireland. The Irish Catholic, 16 November. Retrieved from https://www.irishcatholic.com/stalwart-lady-new-ireland
Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles
Tiernan, S. (2012). Eva Gore-Booth: Champion of the barmaids. Irish Independent, (30 June).
Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles
Tiernan, S. (2020). Irish in Aotearoa: Mapping the Irish community and people of Irish heritage in New Zealand. Centre for Irish Studies, University of Otago in parthership with the Embassy of Ireland, Aotearoa New Zealand. 34p. Retrieved from https://www.friendsofireland.co.nz/survey
Commissioned Report for External Body
Conlon, C., Tiernan, S., & Barry, U. (2005). Work-life balance: The Irish National Report. Commissioned by EU Directorate-General Employment and Social Affairs. Retrieved from http://expert.knowledgetransferireland.com/publications/23397
Commissioned Report for External Body
Tiernan, S. (2021, January). Launch of the "Irish in Aotearoa: Mapping the Irish community and people of Irish heritage in New Zealand" report [Inaugural keynote address]. Small Nations Big Ideas Summer School. New Zealand Parliament Building, Wellington, New Zealand. [Invited Presentation].
Other Research Output
Tiernan, S. (2021, January). Mapping Irish citizens in New Zealand Radio New Zealand, Afternoons with Jesse Mulligan. Retrieved from https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/2018781330/mapping-irish-citizens-in-new-zealand
Other Research Output
Tiernan, S. (2021, January). Shared lives, identity and culture [Panel discussion]. Small Nations Big Ideas Summer School. New Zealand Parliament Building, Wellington, New Zealand. [Invited Presentation].
Other Research Output
Tiernan, S. (2021, January).The Irish in Aotearoa New Zealand. Alumni Event, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. [Public Seminar].
Other Research Output
Tiernan, S. (2021, January).Toast to the lassies: Burns and Ireland. Burns Night Dinner, Toitū Otago Settlers Museum, Dunedin, New Zealand. [Public Seminar].
Other Research Output
Tiernan, S. (2020, February). Ireland and New Zealand: A budding relationship. The Luck of the Irish public series, Toitū Otago Settlers Museum, Dunedin, New Zealand. [Public Seminar].
Other Research Output
Tiernan, S. (2020, January). Luck of the Irish. OAR FM, OARsome Morning Show. Retrieved from https://oar.org.nz/event/oarsome-morning-show-2/
Other Research Output
Tiernan, S. (2020, October). Commemorating controversy: Women and the shaping of Modern Ireland. Melbourne Irish Studies Seminar (MISS) Series, [Online]. Retrieved from https://isaanz.org/2020/09/03/miss-online-women-and-the-shaping-of-modern-ireland
Other Research Output
