Research

Here is a list of published research available on issues pertaining to gender, ethnicity, sexuality, sexism, harassment, and the Irish traditional music scene.

Berkers, P., Woodward, I.S., Dillane, A., Golemo, K., and Haynes, J. “FestiVersities”. (New, 3-year, HERA-funded project with four other European partners exploring European Music Festivals, Public Spaces and Cultural Diversity).

Casey, Karan and Jessica Cawley (2020) The Activism of FairPlé: A Summary Report (2018-2020). Published on FairPlé website.

Casey, Karan (2019) Why I sing the songs I sing: an exploration into the creative strands that contribute to my performance of song. PhD. Limerick: University of Limerick.

Cusack, Joanne (2020) ‘FairPlé develops sexual harassment guidelines in collaboration with RCNI,’ Rape Crisis Network Newsletter October 2020: 10 - 11.

Cusack, Joanne (2021) ‘PhD Vignette: Changes in Society and Scene: An Examination of the Role of Women Performers in Commercial Irish traditional music,’ Spéis ICTM news bulletin.

Cusack, Joanne (2022) “A Woman's Heart: Women, Feminism, and a Communal Voice”, New Hibernia Review 26 (1): 103-122.

Hanlon, Ann-Marie (2023) Gendered experiences of the Irish music industry report. Galway: University of Galway.

Irish Theatre Institute (2021) Speak Up: A Call For Change Towards Creating A Safe And Respectful Working Environment For The Arts. Report, Ireland: Irish Theatre Institute [online].

Ní Fhlannagáin, Úna (2019) “Where are all the Galway Girls? Some stats on gender in Irish traditional music”, Úna - Celtic Voice & Harp.

O’Connor, Louise (2021) “‘It’s not a case of men vs women’: Mise Fosta in Irish Trad,” Cassandra Voices.

O’Connor-Madsen, Jennifer, Laura Watson, and Ita Beausang eds. (2022) Women and Music in Ireland. Woodbridge, UK: The Boydell Press.

O’Shea, Helen (2008) ‘“Good man, Mary!” Women musicians and the fraternity of Irish traditional music,’ Journal of Gender Studies 17 (1): 55 - 70.

O’Shea, Helen (2008) The Making of Irish Traditional Music. Cork: Cork University Press.

TG4 (2019) Mná an Cheoil, (6 part music television series)

Slominski, Tes (2010) Music, Gender, and the Public Sphere in Twentieth-Century Ireland. Ph.D. New York University, New York.

Slominski, Tes (2013) ‘“Pretty young artistes” and “The queen of Irish fiddlers”: Intelligibility, gender and the Irish nationalist imagination,’ Ethnomusicology Ireland 2 (3): 1-21.

Slominski, Tes (2019) ‘Policing space and defying the mainstream: Gender and the creation of a traditional music public sphere in twentieth-century Ireland,’ Yearbook for Traditional Music 51: 247-268.

Slominski, Tes (2020) Trad Nation: Gender, Sexuality, and Race in Irish Traditional Music. Connecticut: Wesleyan University Press.

Williams, Sean (2020) Focus: Irish Traditional Music. 2nd ed. New York and London: Routledge.

WhyNotHer? (2000 - 2021) Gender Disparity Data Radio Charts. (Multiple data reports on gender disparity of radio airplay in Ireland and Britain).

Articles from Ethnomusicology Ireland issue 7 (2021):

Casey, Karan (2021) ‘Truth is the Daughter of Time,’ Ethnomusicology Ireland 7: 139 – 146.

Cattaneo, Massimo (2021) ‘“Clap Your Hands”: Gender Role Distribution in Flamenco Guitar,’ Ethnomusicology Ireland 7: 61 – 82.

Commins, Verena (2021) ‘“The Man and his Music”: Gender Representation, Cultural Capital and the Irish Traditional Music Canon,’ Ethnomusicology Ireland 7: 49 – 60.

Cusack, Joanne (2021) ‘Commercialisation, Celtic and Women in Irish Traditional Music,’ Ethnomusicology Ireland 7: 94 - 109.

DeLapp-Birket, Jennifer (2021) ‘American Folk Music by Shaker Women and Girls: The Case of Ann Maria Love,’ Ethnomusicology Ireland 7: 33- 48.

Fons, Sarah (2021) ‘Where She Stands: Conversations with Nóirín Ní Riain,’ Ethnomusicology Ireland 7: 62 – 88.

Monaghan, Úna (2021) ‘121 Stories: The Impact of Gender on Participation in Irish Traditional Music,’ Ethnomusicology Ireland 7: 17 - 32.

Ní Fhuartháin, Méabh (2021) ‘Women and Traditional/Folk Music: Building a Research Field,’ Ethnomusicology Ireland 7: 1 - 7.

Ní Shíocháin, Tríona (2021) ‘Mother Music: Socially Embedded Creative Practice and the Marketisation of Irish Traditional Music,’ Ethnomusicology Ireland 7: 110 – 122.

Ryan, Paula (2021) ‘Unheard,’ Ethnomusicology Ireland 7: 137 – 138.

Slominski, Tes (2021) ‘Taming “The Tradition Bear”: Reflections on Gender, Sexuality and Race in the Transmission of Irish Traditional Music,’ Ethnomusicology Ireland 7: 8 - 16.

Streit, Kaylie (2021) ‘A Woman and her Cello: Ilse de Ziah's Approach to Irish Traditional Music,’ Ethnomusicology Ireland 7: 89 – 93.

Thompson, Ciara (2021) ‘The (Non-)Gendered Practice of Irish Traditional Lullabies,’ Ethnomusicology Ireland 7: 123 – 136.

If you are conducting research or have published research on the above issues and would like to be included in this list, please contact FairPlé.