Research Profile

Stiofán Ó Cadhla

BIOGRAPHY

Born Rinn O gCuanach, Port Lairge/Waterford, grew up there and in Cork city. Studied Sociology, Irish, Celtic Civilisation and An Leann Duchais to degree level. In 1994, after several years as tutor and Senior Demonstrator he was appointed as a Temporary Full-Time College Lecturer. In 1999 appointed as a Permanent Full-Time 1999. Became Acting Head of Department in 2007. His first publication Cá bhFuil Éire: Guth an Ghaisce i bPrós Sheáin Uí Ríordáin (Where is Ireland?The Heroic Voice in Sean O Riordain's Prose), written for a Masters in Modern Irish under the supervision of Professor Sean O Coileain, was nominated for an Irish Times Literature Award and earned him Duais Chuimhneacháin Phiarais Bhéaslaí in 1996, it was also chosen as book of the year by Cumann Merriman in 1999. This is an analysis of the prose writings of the poet Sean O Riordain. Research interests have ranged from the intellectual discourses around indigenous cultures and languages to the popular or vernacular expressions in both urban and rural, past and present. This includes urban ethnological research on 'joyriding' and more typically folkloristic practices like pilgrimages to holy wells. Four Courts Press publised 'The Holy Well Tradition' in 2002. Some of this theory was explored in Civilizing Ireland, published by the Irish Academic Press in 2007. This is an examination of the nineteenth-century British Ordnance Survey of Ireland from an ethnogrpahic perspective. This raises issues such as language, translation and representation in Irish folklore and ethnology. In 2009 Coisceim published An Creidmheach Deanach, a collection of poetry and in 2010 his latest publication was awarded the first prize in the prose category at Oireachtas na Gaeilge. Key interests are language, culture, representation, translation and interpretation within the intellectual formation of 'folklore', particularly vis-a-vis indigenous culture.


Research Interests

My research tries to remain grounded in particular located examples that emphasize the relevance of the discipline as an interlocutor between the community and the university. Increasingly social and cultural research must be evaluated in terms of its contribution to knowledge but also to the society that hosts it. An understudied aspect of this is the underlying epistemological framework of knowledge we inherit from a not always democratic or egalitarian institution. The assumptions, illusions, fads, fashions and oversights within the discipline of folklore are legendary. Some emerged in the colonial and postcolonial era but still continue to shape both popular and academic understandings. They restrict development and challenging them is a vital element of ongoing research. The implications are not purely 'academic' in the most negative sense of that word but aim to carry forward the discipline into the future as a dynamic contributor to ongoing local, regional and national conversation. Cognizant of constant disciplinary re-assessments throughout Europe and the proliferation of alternate visions it remains focused on a exposition of the `quality' of the popular or vernacular understood as everyday life and experience, `lived-in' culture. The contribution is twofold in working in and between two languages as well as against the hegemony of evolutionary nineteenth-century disciplines. It reflects contemporary concerns within cultural theory as well as the primary or fundamental ideas of the discipline.

Publications

Books

 YearPublication
(2011)An tSlat Feithleoige: Ealaiona an Duchais 1800-2000.
Stiofan O Cadhla; (2011) An tSlat Feithleoige: Ealaiona an Duchais 1800-2000. Indreabhan: Clo Iar-Chonnacht. [Details]
(2009)An Creidmheach Déanach.
Stiofán O Cadhla; (2009) An Creidmheach Déanach. Baile Átha Cliath: Coiscéim. [Details]
(2007)Civilizing Ireland: Ordnance Survey 1824-1842: Ethnography, Cartography, Translation.
Stiofán O Cadhla; (2007) Civilizing Ireland: Ordnance Survey 1824-1842: Ethnography, Cartography, Translation. Dublin: Irish Academic Press. [Details]
(2002)The Holy Well Tradition: The Pattern of St Declan 1800-2002.
Stiofán O Cadhla; (2002) The Holy Well Tradition: The Pattern of St Declan 1800-2002. Dublin: Four Courts Press. [Details]
(1998)Cá bhFuil Éire? Guth an Ghaisce i bPrós Sheáin Uí Ríordáin.
Stiofán O Cadhla; (1998) Cá bhFuil Éire? Guth an Ghaisce i bPrós Sheáin Uí Ríordáin. Baile Atha Cliath / Dublin: An Clóchchomhar Teo. [Details]

Book Chapters

 YearPublication
(2000)'Bríonna an tSeanchais: Red Bull nó Tae'
Stiofán O Cadhla; (2000) 'Bríonna an tSeanchais: Red Bull nó Tae' In: An Aimsir Óg. Baile Atha Cliath: [DOI] [Details]
(2010)''Scribes and Storytellers: The Ethnographic Imagination in Nineteenth-Century Ireland'
O'Cadhla, Stiofan; (2010) ''Scribes and Storytellers: The Ethnographic Imagination in Nineteenth-Century Ireland' In: Julia M. Wright (eds). A Companion to Irish Literature. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell. [Details]
(2012)'An Lus Mor: Eolas na bPiseog agus Piseog an Eolais'
Stiofan O Cadhla (2012) 'An Lus Mor: Eolas na bPiseog agus Piseog an Eolais' In: Rionach ui Ogain, William Nolan, Eamonn O hOgain (eds). Sean agus Nua agus Sioraiocht: Feilscribhinn in Omos do Dhaithi O hOgain. Baile Atha Cliath: Coisceim. [Details]
(2008)'Seán Ó Ríordáin agus an Dá Thíriúlacht: An Ghaeltacht agus an Raibiléiseachas'
Stiofán O Cadhla; (2008) 'Seán Ó Ríordáin agus an Dá Thíriúlacht: An Ghaeltacht agus an Raibiléiseachas' In: Mairead Ni Loinsigh (eds). Tar Éis a Bháis: Aistí Ar Sheán Ó Ríordáin. Indreabhán Conamara: Cló IarChonnachta. [Details]
(2007)'Nóra Ní Chinnéide 1859-1936, Scéalaí'
Stiofán O Cadhla; (2007) 'Nóra Ní Chinnéide 1859-1936, Scéalaí' In: An Linn Bhuí: Iris Ghaeltacht na nDéise. [Details]
(2007)'Teangeolaí Ioruach ar Thóir na Gaeilge: Håkon Melberg agus Gaeilge na nDéise'
Stiofán O Cadhla; (2007) 'Teangeolaí Ioruach ar Thóir na Gaeilge: Håkon Melberg agus Gaeilge na nDéise' In: An Linn Bhuí: Iris Ghaeltacht na nDéise. [Details]
(2003)'Pattern, St Brighid's Day, Lúnasa, Women¿s Christmas, Hallowe¿en, Quarter Days, May Day and Calendar Custom'
Stiofán O Cadhla; (2003) 'Pattern, St Brighid's Day, Lúnasa, Women¿s Christmas, Hallowe¿en, Quarter Days, May Day and Calendar Custom' In: The Encyclopaedia of Ireland. Gill and MacMillan: Dublin. [Details]

Peer Reviewed Journals

 YearPublication
(1999)'Spraoithiomaint agus Dianimirt'
Stiofan O Cadhla; (1999) 'Spraoithiomaint agus Dianimirt' Baile Atha CliathComhar [DOI] [Details]
(2002)'Captaen na bhFear mBán: Father Nicholas Sheehy in History/Folklore'
Stiofán O Cadhla; (2002) 'Captaen na bhFear mBán: Father Nicholas Sheehy in History/Folklore' Thurles [DOI] [Details]
(2007)'Cultural Heritages as Reflexive Traditions'
Stiofan O Cadhla; (2007) 'Cultural Heritages as Reflexive Traditions' Baile Atha Cliath / DublinFolklore of Ireland Society [DOI] [Details]
(2007)'Teangeolai Ioruach ar Thoir na Gaeilge: Hakon Melberg agus Gaeilge na nDeise'
Stiofan O Cadhla, Angun Sonnesyn Olsen; (2007) 'Teangeolai Ioruach ar Thoir na Gaeilge: Hakon Melberg agus Gaeilge na nDeise' Baile Atha Cliath [DOI] [Details]
(2007)''Grasta na Foighne Chugainn': Nora Ni Chinneide (1859-1936): Scealai'
Stiofan O Cadhla; (2007) ''Grasta na Foighne Chugainn': Nora Ni Chinneide (1859-1936): Scealai' Baile Atha Cliath [DOI] [Details]
(2008)''The Gnarled and Stony Clods of Townlands Tip: Mairtin O Cadhlain and the 'Gaelic Storyteller''
Stiofan O Cadhla; (2008) ''The Gnarled and Stony Clods of Townlands Tip: Mairtin O Cadhlain and the 'Gaelic Storyteller'' Canada [Details]
(2009)'Cill Ghobnait agus Aonaigh Eile: Feilti agus Bruionta sa 19u hAois Deag'
Stiofan O Cadhla; (2009) 'Cill Ghobnait agus Aonaigh Eile: Feilti agus Bruionta sa 19u hAois Deag' Baile Atha Cliath [DOI] [Details]
(2010)''The Story of Folklore'
O'Cadhla, Stiofan; (2010) ''The Story of Folklore' Ireland [DOI] [Details]
(2011)'Ag Tiontu an Chultuir: Affaire Dominici agus Maolra Seoighe'
Stiofan O Cadhla; (2011) 'Ag Tiontu an Chultuir: Affaire Dominici agus Maolra Seoighe' Paris [Details]
(2011)''The Religion of Fools''
Stiofan O Cadhla (2011) ''The Religion of Fools'' Indiana, United States of America   [Details]
(2007)'`Remembering the Year of the French: Irish Folk History and Social Memory''
Stiofán O Cadhla; (2007) '`Remembering the Year of the French: Irish Folk History and Social Memory'' [Details]
(2006)'Ualach na hImpire ag Luí go Trom'
Stiofán O Cadhla; (2006) 'Ualach na hImpire ag Luí go Trom' Ceathru Rua, Gaillimh [DOI] [Details]
(2005)'Crafting Gender'
Stiofán O Cadhla; (2005) 'Crafting Gender' Utah State University Press, USA [DOI] [Details]
(2006)'Exorcising Folklore'
Stiofán O Cadhla; (2006) 'Exorcising Folklore' [Details]
(2006)''Scéal Úr nó Seanscéal: An Finscéal Comhaimseartha sa Bhéaloideas''
Stiofán O Cadhla; (2006) ''Scéal Úr nó Seanscéal: An Finscéal Comhaimseartha sa Bhéaloideas'' [Details]
(2006)'A Social History of Women in Ireland'
Stiofán O Cadhla; (2006) 'A Social History of Women in Ireland' [Details]
(2002)'Place, Identity and Community'
Stiofán O Cadhla; (2002) 'Place, Identity and Community' [DOI] [Details]
(2001)'Middle-class Flu and the Hybrid Vernacular'
Stiofán O Cadhla; (2001) 'Middle-class Flu and the Hybrid Vernacular' Cork [DOI] [Details]
(2001)'Fast Knocks and Nags: The Stolen Car in the Urban Vernacular Culture of Cork'
Stiofán O Cadhla; (2001) 'Fast Knocks and Nags: The Stolen Car in the Urban Vernacular Culture of Cork' [Details]
(1999)'Mapping a Discourse: Irish Gnosis and the Ordnance Survey 1824-1842'
Stiofán O Cadhla; (1999) 'Mapping a Discourse: Irish Gnosis and the Ordnance Survey 1824-1842' [Details]
(1999)'Meon an Spraoithiomanai'
Stiofán O Cadhla; (1999) 'Meon an Spraoithiomanai' Baile Atha Cliath [DOI] [Details]
(1992)'Dánta Aniar'
Stiofán O Cadhla; (1992) 'Dánta Aniar' [Details]
(1990)'Mionmhiotas Miotail'
Stiofán O Cadhla; (1990) 'Mionmhiotas Miotail' [Details]
(1988)'Mismín'
Stiofán O Cadhla; (1988) 'Mismín' [Details]
(1987)'Cúltíreach'
Stiofán O Cadhla; (1987) 'Cúltíreach' [Details]

Other Journals

 YearPublication
(1987)'Cultireach'
Stiofan O Cadhla; (1987) 'Cultireach' Cyphers, 28 :31-31. [DOI] [Details]
(1988)'Portáin'
Stiofán O Cadhla; (1988) 'Portáin' Cyphers, 29 :13-14. [DOI] [Details]
(1988)'Duine Dínn, agus Sean-Fhondúir'
Stiofán O Cadhla; (1988) 'Duine Dínn, agus Sean-Fhondúir' The Salmon: 7th Anniversary Issue, 19 :39-40. [DOI] [Details]
(1988)'Mismin'
Stiofan O Cadhla; (1988) 'Mismin' Innti, 11 :27-27. [DOI] [Details]
(1989)'I gCead do Chaesar'
Stiofán O Cadhla; (1989) 'I gCead do Chaesar' INNTI, 12 :76-76. [DOI] [Details]
(1990)'Náisiúntacht agus Eitneacht'
Stiofán O Cadhla; (1990) 'Náisiúntacht agus Eitneacht' Anois, . [Details]
(1990)'An Sagart, Éan Eachtrann'
Stiofán O Cadhla; (1990) 'An Sagart, Éan Eachtrann' INNTI, 13 . [DOI] [Details]
(1990)'Naisiuntacht agus Eitneacht'
Stiofan O Cadhla; (1990) 'Naisiuntacht agus Eitneacht' Anois, 7 (4) :13-13. [Details]
(1990)'Mionmhiotas Miotail, Macalla'
Stiofan O Cadhla; (1990) 'Mionmhiotas Miotail, Macalla' Poetry Ireland Review, 28 :85-85. [DOI] [Details]
(1991)'Oidhe na Gaeilge'
Stiofán O Cadhla; (1991) 'Oidhe na Gaeilge' Anois, . [Details]
(1991)'Oidhe na Gaeilge'
Stiofán O Cadhla; (1991) 'Oidhe na Gaeilge' Anois, . [Details]
(1992)'Eanáir'
Stiofán O Cadhla; (1992) 'Eanáir' Cyphers, 35 :16-16. [DOI] [Details]
(1992)'An Torramh Beo, Na Baidhsiclí'
Stiofán O Cadhla; (1992) 'An Torramh Beo, Na Baidhsiclí' The Steeple: Ireland's New Magazine for Poetry, :34-35. [Details]
(2003)'La X'
Stiofán O Cadhla; (2003) 'La X' COMHAR, 63 (5) :33-33. [DOI] [Details]
(2006)'An Ford Anglia agus an Fhilíocht: Seán Ó Ríordáin agus Cathair Chorcaí'
Stiofán O Cadhla; (2006) 'An Ford Anglia agus an Fhilíocht: Seán Ó Ríordáin agus Cathair Chorcaí' The Archive: Journal of the Northside Folklore Project, 10th Anniversary Edition, 10 :11-11. [DOI] [Details]
(2006)'A Social History of Women in Ireland 1870-1970'
Stiofan O Cadhla; (2006) 'A Social History of Women in Ireland 1870-1970' Irish Studies Review, 14 (2) :282-285. [DOI] [Details]
(2007)'An Ghaeilge agus Cathair Bhéal Feirste'
Stiofán O Cadhla; (2007) 'An Ghaeilge agus Cathair Bhéal Feirste' Foinse, 10 (532) :16-16. [DOI] [Details]
(2007)'Scriobhai, Seanchai, Gniomhai'
Stiofan O Cadhla; (2007) 'Scriobhai, Seanchai, Gniomhai' Foinse, 10 (557) :19-19. [DOI] [Details]
(2007)'Nil sa Stair ach Fianaise, breith is ea an bealoideas'
Stiofan O Cadhla; (2007) 'Nil sa Stair ach Fianaise, breith is ea an bealoideas' Faobhar : forlionadh i bhFoinse, 10 (562) :16-17. [DOI] [Details]
(2007)'W. B Yeats agus an Sineadh Fada'
Stiofan O Cadhla; (2007) 'W. B Yeats agus an Sineadh Fada' Foinse, 10 (545) :19-19. [DOI] [Details]
(2008)'Scéalta agus Seanchas ón Rinn'
Stiofán O Cadhla; (2008) 'Scéalta agus Seanchas ón Rinn' Béaloideas, 76 :287-290. [DOI] [Details]
(2008)'Subterfuge and Evasion in the Irish Folklore Commission'
Stiofán O Cadhla; (2008) 'Subterfuge and Evasion in the Irish Folklore Commission' Studia Celtica Fennica, 5 :98-100. [DOI] [Details]
(2008)'Urban Legends'
Stiofán O Cadhla; (2008) 'Urban Legends' Journal of American Folklore, . [Details]
(2008)'Polymath and Pioneer'
Stiofán O Cadhla; (2008) 'Polymath and Pioneer' The Irish Review, 38 :138-140. [DOI] [Details]
(2008)'`Dán an tSanais¿, review Diarmaid Ó Muirithe, The Words We Use'
Stiofán O Cadhla; (2008) '`Dán an tSanais¿, review Diarmaid Ó Muirithe, The Words We Use' Foinse, . [Details]
(2008)'`Ríordáin, an Béaloideas agus Hollywood na Gaeltachta¿'
Stiofán O Cadhla; (2008) '`Ríordáin, an Béaloideas agus Hollywood na Gaeltachta¿' Irish News, . [Details]
(2007)'Ten Traditional Tellers By Margaret Read MacDonald'
Stiofán O Cadhla; (2007) 'Ten Traditional Tellers By Margaret Read MacDonald' Journal of Folklore Research: An International Journal of Folklore and Ethnomusicology, . [Details]
(2006)'Pádraig Ó Miléadha agus Bailiú an Bhéaloidis'
Stiofán O Cadhla; (2006) 'Pádraig Ó Miléadha agus Bailiú an Bhéaloidis' An Linn Bhuí: Iris Ghaeltacht na nDéise, 10 :167-194. [DOI] [Details]
(2005)'Bab Feiritéar: The Last Storyteller'
Stiofán O Cadhla; (2005) 'Bab Feiritéar: The Last Storyteller' UCC News, . [Details]
(2005)'Folklore Pioneer'
Stiofán O Cadhla; (2005) 'Folklore Pioneer' UCC News, . [Details]
(2004)'Buachaill na Geanmnaíochta'
Stiofán O Cadhla; (2004) 'Buachaill na Geanmnaíochta' Southword: New Writing from Ireland, 7 :23-23. [DOI] [Details]
(2001)'Seanduine Donn is Bothán ar a Dhrom? Bailiúchán na Scol sa Rinn'
Stiofán O Cadhla; (2001) 'Seanduine Donn is Bothán ar a Dhrom? Bailiúchán na Scol sa Rinn' An Linn Bhuí: Iris Ghaeltacht na nDéise, . [Details]
(2000)'An Gael agus an Gowla'
Stiofán O Cadhla; (2000) 'An Gael agus an Gowla' The Archive: Journal of the Northside Folklore Project, . [Details]

Conference Publications

 YearPublication
(2008)Faobhar: Iris Mhíosúil Foinse
Stiofán O Cadhla; (2008) Dracula le Seán Ó Currín Faobhar: Iris Mhíosúil Foinse [Details]
(2007)Faobhar: Iris Mhíosúil Foinse
Stiofán O Cadhla; (2007) Níl sa Stair Ach Fianaise. Breith is ea an Béaloideas Faobhar: Iris Mhíosúil Foinse [Details]

Newspaper Articles

 YearPublication
(2001)'Ardmore Pattern'.
Stiofán O Cadhla; (2001) 'Ardmore Pattern'. Newspaper Articles [Details]
(1991)'Fios', Stet: The National Literary and Arts Newspaper.
Stiofán O Cadhla; (1991) 'Fios', Stet: The National Literary and Arts Newspaper. Newspaper Articles [Details]
(1989)'Scriosta le Meon an Deontais'.
Stiofán O Cadhla; (1989) 'Scriosta le Meon an Deontais'. Newspaper Articles [Details]

Review Articles

 YearPublication
(2007)W. B. Yeats agus an Síneadh Fada.
Stiofán O Cadhla; (2007) W. B. Yeats agus an Síneadh Fada. Review Articles [Details]
(2007)'Scríobhaí, Seanchaí, Gníomhaí'.
Stiofán O Cadhla; (2007) 'Scríobhaí, Seanchaí, Gníomhaí'. Corcaigh, Cló Ollscoile Chorcaí: Review Articles [Details]
(2011)Mioscais na gCumar: Bealoideas agus Seanchas o Bhearra.
Stiofan O Cadhla (2011) Mioscais na gCumar: Bealoideas agus Seanchas o Bhearra. Baile Atha Cliath: Review Articles [Details]

Teaching Activities

Teaching Interests

Teaching interest across undergraduate, Adult Education, Community Employment Schemes and postgraduate. Subects taught previously include gender and folklore, popular culture/urban ethnology, fieldwork seminars but my main and most current interests include the interpretations of 'folklore' across a range of previously unproblematic disciplines like archaeology, history, folklore, 'Celtic' studies and others. I am interesting in a broad humanistic approach to the subject that asks what kind of knowledge 'folklore' really is, and how can we understand and study the 'sayings and doings' of people in their everyday lives. I teach across undergraduate modules in ritual, festival and belief as well as postgraduate modules on the authorship and questions of representation and identity within the academy. Folklore needs ever more relevant, or at least less archaic, interpretations to open up the kind of knowledge it introduces to new scholars and students.

Contact details

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Department of Folklore and Ethnology

Béaloideas agus Eitneolaíocht

5 Elderwood,College Rd Cork,Ireland

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