Queen's University Belfast

Kerron O Luain

Biographical details:

I am currently in the second year of my PhD. I completed both my BA (History, Modern Irish and Celtic Studies) and MA in History at the National University of Ireland, Galway. My BA History dissertation was on the subject of pre-Famine Ribbonism while my MA dissertation was entitled ‘Rathcoole and the United Irish Rebellions’, which was a local study of the 1798 and 1803 rebellions in my hometown.

Research topic and interests:

My interests are primarily 19^th and 20^th century Irish history. More specifically secret societies, revolutionary nationalism and popular protest are the subjects I enjoy researching and studying most. My thesis is (provisionally) entitled ‘The Fenians of 19^th century South Ulster and their antecedents’. It will seek to examine the hitherto downplayed influence of the Fenians on the southern portion of the Province, while also looking at older, more localised conspiratorial groupings such as the Ribbon Societies and the role they may have played in stunting or facilitating the growth of Fenianism.