Six historians appointed to champion Dublin’s history across the city
Meet the newly appointed Historians in Residence who will highlight Dublin history across the city over the next two years.
Dublin City Council has announced the latest batch of six Historians in Residence who will support communities, schools, and local organisations to explore and celebrate the rich history of Dublin throughout 2026 and 2027. This programme is delivered by Dublin City Council Culture Company, in partnership with Dublin City Libraries, to place professional historians directly into the community.
As an initiative that encourages people of all ages to discover more about their local area, the historians lead talks, workshops, guided walks, research collaborations, and creative community projects. Each Historian in Residence will develop a tailored programme shaped by local interests and have previously highlighted everything from creepy Christmas traditions to a fascinating look at the past 50 years of Darndale history .
Since its inception in 2017, the Historians in Residence programme, funded by Dublin City Council, has engaged thousands of people across the city. With the addition of a Historian in Residence for Children in recent years, the programme now offers even more opportunities for younger audiences to discover the stories of where they live.
Lord Mayor of Dublin Councillor Ray McAdam welcomed their appointment and stated: “Strong, connected communities are at the heart of Dublin’s success. The Historians in Residence programme helps people come together, share their stories, and build a deeper understanding of the places they call home. By encouraging people to come together and engage with the past, the initiative helps deepen understanding, build a sense of belonging, and reinforce the social fabric that underpins a thriving city.”
Katie holds an MA in Public History and Cultural Heritage and has worked for many years in libraries and archives. As an independent researcher she has undertaken community-based oral history projects focusing on cultural and social history.
James holds a PhD in History and Digital Humanities, along with undergraduate and postgraduate history degrees from Trinity College Dublin. He is the creator of a “Stories of Dublin” channel on YouTube and has published widely on twentieth century Irish history, and is a member of the Shelbourne FC Heritage Committee.
Her books include Ghost Signs of Dublin (2014), The Commercial Lives of Irish Women, 1850-1922: Business as Usual (2025) and, with Arthur Edward Guinness, Guinness: A Family Succession (2025). Recent shorter work has been published in Sunday Miscellany - A Selection 2023-2025 (2025), The Politics of Gender and Sexuality in Modern Ireland (2024), and Tearing Stripes off Zebras (2023). She is a contributing editor with The Gloss magazine.
Having returned to formal education in 2015 after a long career in social care, Elizabeth graduated from Trinity College with a history degree and an M. Phil. in Modern Irish History. An independent Dublin-based researcher and tour guide, her work is rooted in social history and oral testimony. She is particularly interested in using oral history to capture lived experience and community memory, and in finding creative ways—through talks, tours, exhibitions, and collaborative projects—to bring those stories to life.
She holds a PhD and M. Phil. from Trinity College Dublin in Irish public history, with special interests in social history and public engagement with the past. Her work in public history has involved podcasts, exhibitions, radio shows, documentaries, and popular history writing. Her most recent publication, a book chapter in Space in Public History (Routledge, 2024), explored the politics of space in Dublin 1922-39.
He holds a PhD in history from Trinity College Dublin, where he also studied for his BA and MPhil. His research focuses on the history of childhood and humanitarianism in the twentieth century. He is an experienced teacher and is also currently History Lead at the Museum of Childhood Ireland. He is particularly interested in finding new and exciting ways for children to explore both the past and their creativity.
This content is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme