Portrayals of Remembrance: Representations of Individual Memory in Contemporary Cinema

Films that feature representations of memory often offer insight into how humanity perceives its past and the portrayal of that perception in cinema. Although it is not altogether a neglected area, there is a lack of specific scholarly writings on the portrayal of the memory of individual characters – here termed individual memory – in contemporary cinema. The scope of the research addresses this gap by specifically providing an overview on how contemporary films released during the period 2000-2023 portray individual memory and how these portrayals differ from past cinema. The study groups twenty-eight relevant films into three categories related to individual memory (Prosthetic, Traumatic, and Memory Loss) that comprise the three chapters of analysis that the body of the thesis consist of. The thesis implements a qualitative textual analysis using theoretical frameworks and concepts, including “forking-path” narrative, “empty spaces”, the “modernist event”, “then and now” narrative, among others. The analysis helps to reveal how depictions of individual memory contribute to aspects of character and narrative, thus expanding the knowledge on representations of individual memory. The analysis also explores how the language of cinema is utilised in contemporary films in relation to the portrayal of individual memory, allowing for a specific recognition of cinematic representations of individual remembrance and their implications in a study primarily dedicated to them. Outcomes of the study are findings that regard the manner in which representations of individual memory depict the emotional authenticity of these contemporary portrayals: In the twenty-first-century, contemporary films candidly engage with the impact of prosthetic influences, iterations of trauma, and memory loss diseases on individuals. Further findings note the evolution of the cinematic language implemented in portrayals of individual memory and identify the risk of the progressive aspects of these portrayals becoming stagnant, leading to the risk of creating new stereotypes

A Revolutionary Queen: Philomena Begley’s Use of Country Music Songs to Challenge Social Attitudes in Irish Society

Singer Philomena Begley (b.1942) is widely promoted as the “Queen of Irish country music.” This article critically examines examples from the early decades of her 60-year career that highlight her role in challenging attitudes toward women in Irish society. By critically reflecting on her recordings and autobiography, as well as information gleaned in an interview, the article details how Begley appropriated American country music songs with lyrics that resonated with an Irish audience and challenged the social and cultural norms of Irish society during the 1960s. The article focuses on Begley’s covers of American songs, “Blanket on the Ground”, “Truck Driving Woman” and “The Box It Came In,” using semiotic and cultural analysis to exemplify how artists construct meaning through song lyrics and performance. Performing songs written in and influenced by American society, Begley highlighted aspects of the lived experience of women in Ireland and achieved iconic status in Irish country music. Drawing on Philomena Begley’s example this article demonstrates how legacy is created in Irish country music, and highlights the continuing relevance and influence of Begley on the Irish country music scene today

A Critical Exploration of Women’s Entrepreneurship Policy and Access to Finance in Ireland: An Ecosystems Approach

Women's entrepreneurship has been recognised as critical for economic growth and job creation. Consequently, policy initiatives and programmes to increase the number of women entrepreneurs have been developed. Despite this, the literature has shown that women-owned businesses are still significantly underrepresented globally. Access to finance has been recognised as a particular challenge facing women-owned businesses, especially at the start-up stage. Studies exploring the concept of entrepreneurial ecosystems note that access to finance and government policy play a critical role in entrepreneurial behaviour. These studies argue that most entrepreneurship policies are inherently gendered. While such studies are valuable, this remains a relatively unexplored theme, especially in Ireland. This thesis explores the potential embedded gender biases within the Irish entrepreneurship landscape, by focusing on women entrepreneurs at the intersection of policy and access to finance. Drawing on feminist theory and adopting an ecosystems approach, the study employs a three-stage interpretive qualitative research approach combining discourse analysis, in-depth semi-structured interviews, and a policy reading guide (GWEP). Qualitative interviews with 43 women entrepreneurs and 3 funders were conducted and thematically analysed. Finance-focused entrepreneurship policy and programme documents for women’s entrepreneurship in Ireland were analysed using the GWEP policy reading guide. Findings reveal that the Irish entrepreneurial ecosystem is inherently gendered. Current policies designed to support women entrepreneurs' access to finance do not appear to alter women's disadvantaged position in society; rather they perpetuate women’s ‘othering’ positioning. This was particularly evident in this study through the power and gender dynamics uncovered in the funding landscape. It appears that while women are encouraged to actively seek funding, they are at the same time reminded of their subordinate position. It seems that women entrepreneurs are reminded ‘to know their place’ in entrepreneurship through the various embedded gender biases and structural barriers imposed within the Irish funding ecosystem

Funerary Rituals and Traditions in Twenty-First Century Irish Literature: Navigating Grief in a Liminal Space.

This thesis explores how grief and funerary rituals are portrayed in twenty-first century Irish literature, focusing on the ways in which funerals and wakes function as liminal spaces that illuminate the emotional and psychological processes of mourning. Addressing a gap in research, which often overlooks the literary representation of funerary traditions in post-2000 Irish literature, this study examines works by authors such as Anne Enright, Mary Costello, Kathleen MacMahon, and Donal Ryan. Using an interdisciplinary approach that integrates literary analysis with psychological, anthropological and medical perspectives on grief, this research argues that funerary rituals act as narrative tools for exploring the complexities of grief and the intersections of personal loss, collective identity and societal change. These rituals, deeply rooted in tradition yet reimagined for modern contexts, create transitional spaces where characters navigate transformation, healing, alienation and their reintegration into community life. Drawing on Arnold van Gennep’s theory of liminality, Victor Turner’s concept of communitas and including contemporary grief theory, this thesis examines how Irish literature reflects broader cultural concerns, including national identity, secularisation, and the preservation of tradition. It demonstrates how funerary settings serve as spaces for personal reflection and communal negotiation, offering insights into how grief is experienced and understood in a rapidly evolving society. This research makes an original contribution to Irish studies by bridging literary analysis with interdisciplinary perspectives, revealing how funerary traditions remain central to Irish culture while continuing to evolve in response to modernity

From Sallins to Seville; an examination of the influences and work of the (living) Irish flamenco and composer, John Walsh

Flamenco is an expressive and passionate art form originating with the Romani who settled in Andalusia, Spain. it blends singing (cante), guitar playing (toque), and dancing (baile), often accompanied by finger snaps (pitos) and handclaps (palmas). Its deep emotional intensity reflects themes of hardship, joy and love, deeply rooted in Spanish cultural traditions. Flamenco blends various influences, including Arabic, Sufi, Jewish and Romani, creating diverse, dynamic rhythms. John Walsh qualified from University of Limerick as a physicist but the gravitational pull of the guitar, a serendipitous meeting with a journeyman guitarist, and the key influence of the work of Paco de Lucia changed the trajectory of his life and career. Initially inspired by the compositions of Johann Sebastian Bach, specifically for the guitar, the peculiar and strenuous demands of flamenco demanded a re-location to Andalucia for instruction and immersion in flamenco music, guitar playing and performance, and culture. John has been composing music since his teens but is now writing original short pieces for the guitar almost exclusively in the flamenco style but fused with contemporary musical influences. These compositions have been studio recorded and released

Modulation of BK channels by the novel auxiliary subunit, LINGO2

Large conductance Ca2+ activated K+ (BK) channels are ubiquitously expressed transmembrane proteins that govern smooth muscle and neuronal excitability (Latorre et al., 2010; Τao et al., 2017). They are activated by both Ca2+ and cellular depolarisation. The biophysical and pharmacological properties of the channels can be fine-tuned by their regulatory subunits, β1-4, γ1-4 and LINGO1 (Solaro and Lingle, 1992; Knaus et al., 1994; Xia et al., 1999; Gonzalez-Perez and Lingle, 2019; Dudem et al., 2020). The aims of this thesis were as follows: 1.TocharacterisethebiophysicalpropertiesofBK:LINGO2currents. 2. To investigate the effects of oxidation on BK:LINGO2 currents and determine the residues responsible for these effects. 3.ToidentifytheresiduesintheLINGO2tailresponsibleforinactivation. 4. To study the role of non-conserved and conserved charged residues in the cytosolic tail of LINGO2. 5. To examine the contribution of phenylalanine residues positioned in the transmembrane of LINGO2. HEK cells were transiently co-transfected with BK, LINGO2 and GFP cDNA (100 ng:500 ng:150 ng). Inside out patches were studied at 37oC, under voltage clamp, using the patch clamp technique with equimolar K+ pipette solutions. Site-directed mutagenesis were carried out to study the role of specific amino acids located in the transmembrane and cytosolic tail of LINGO2. A docking model of LINGO2 with BK was utilised to identify the potential binding partner for several LINGO2 residues in BK channels. The main findings of this thesis are: 1. LINGO2isanovelauxiliarysubunitofBKchannels. 2. BK:LINGO2 currents can be modulated by redox reactions and oxidation of M603 and M605 in the C-terminus of LINGO2 tail inhibits the inactivation. 3.TheconservednegativelychargedaminoacidsinLINGO2tailcontributetothe voltage-dependent activation in BK:LINGO2 channels. 4.Mutationoffourphenylalanineresidues(F550,F552,F558&F560)toalanine in the TM domain of LINGO2 reduced the negative shift in V1/2, suggesting that these residues are important in mediating the effects of LINGO2 on activation V1/2. 5.TheF552AmutantintheLINGO2TMregionabolishedinactivation,suggesting that this residue plays a critical role in positioning the LINGO2 tail to permit inactivation

A Critical Examination of Otherness in Cartoon Saloon’s Irish Folklore Trilogy

Old stories are repeatedly retold and reworked. They are used to explore social issues, represent political movements, and reconnect us with the past. This thesis critically examines how Irish mythology and folklore have been reworked by Irish filmmakers to tell new stories, focusing on Cartoon Saloon’s folklore trilogy. The Secret of Kells (2009), Song of the Sea (2014), and Wolfwalkers (2020) demonstrate how old myths can be effectively brought into the present to address modern issues. This process has multiple effects, enriching an audiences’ understanding of Irish identity and allowing filmmakers to explore Ireland’s past and present in new ways. The animated films by Cartoon Saloon are contextualised in relation to the development of the Irish animation industry and compared with other examples of Irish and international cinema to gain a sense of how the trilogy fits into the history and development of Irish film, as well as changing representations of Irishness. Divided into two parts, this interdisciplinary dissertation provides a theoretical underpinning that incorporates literature from beyond film studies, drawing from the perspectives offered by different disciplines, and a historical overview of Irish animation. The second part focuses on Cartoon Saloon, demonstrating the applicability of archetypal theory to the trilogy, and focusing on themes of nature, solitude, women characters, and queer identities. The dissertation demonstrates how the studios reworking of myth to explore otherness differentiates Cartoon Saloon’s films from the conservative and traditionalist Irish films of the past, firmly establishing the trilogy as an example of modern, post-nationalist Irish cinema

Using Agile Practices to Address Defects in Medical Device Software Development: A Survey of Medical Device Software Organisations in Ireland

Agile Practices are widely used in the noncritical software development domain and are advocated to reduce defects. However, there is limited evidence in the existing literature about their exclusive implementation in Medical Device Software (MDS) development. Prior research has shown that agile practices are often integrated into traditional approaches for specific purposes, but there is little evidence in the existing literature about using agile practices specifically for addressing defects in MDS development. Through a survey of MDS organisations in Ireland, this study investigated the use of agile practices for addressing defects. The findings revealed that organisations implement agile practices for addressing defects, but prioritise identifying defects during coding and testing phases, primarily using code review, unit testing, integration testing, and coding standards. Defect identification usually occurs in the later part of the software development cycle. However, addressing defects late in the software development cycle can lead to costly rework and potential catastrophes when defects slip into the final product. We argue that in MDS development, both defect prevention and identification should be prioritised and implemented to manage defects more effectively and comprehensively. This approach could help to avoid costly rework and potential consequences arising due to defects that occur later. Agile practices can help in preventing defects early in the software development process and identifying those that slip to later stages, thereby ensuring overall software quality

Development of BEM-AD model for optimisation of Horizontal Axis Tidal Current Turbine Arrays

Advancement and improvement of new and efficient techniques to meet the ever- increasing energy demand for economic and social development are of significant interest. Renewable energy technologies offer an appealing option to supply this growing electricity demand, while also assisting with the European Union’s policy on sustainability. Ireland has excellent tidal energy resources which can be utilised to meet future energy goals. However, significant research and development is still needed to realise Ireland’s tidal energy potential. tidal current turbines (TCTs) are at an early stage of development, particularly the deployment of devices in arrays, thus more studies and investigations are required on wake interactions between tur- bines to optimise array performance via numerical modelling. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is a very suitable numerical method to study TCT arrays, but high computational cost is needed to obtain high-accuracy results. For that reason, the development of low computational cost numerical models with suitable accuracy is paramount. In this work, a numerical model was developed to predict the wake effects of a tidal current turbine for array optimisation with a focus on downstream velocity, turbulence intensity and energetic predictions. The first stage of the work focused on developing and enhancing a single-turbine model by coupling Actuator Disk (AD) theory and Blade Element Momentum (BEM) theory to model turbine wake effects known as BEM-AD model. Variations and hybrid models were developed to further improve prediction of downstream wake effects. In the second stage of the work, a multiple turbine wake interaction study was performed to evaluate hydrodynamically, the array spacing, array arrangement, effects of turbine sizes and the placement of turbines at different depths in the water column. For the third stage of the work, an optimised TCT array model was developed and evaluation was conducted for a range of different domain conditions. Finally, a case study on the Shannon Estuary was conducted to assess the tidal current turbine array model’s energetic performance in a pseudo-transient state

An Exploration of the Experiences of Home Health Care Assistants working through the COVID-19 pandemic

Background: The number of older people living in Ireland and globally has grown in recent years. The demand for home care services in Ireland is predicted to rise exponentially. However, home care organisations face challenges with the recruitment and retention of Home Health Care Assistants. Job resources have been shown to positively influence an employee’s experience of their job whilst also positively impacting retention rates. Literature on the experiences of home health care assistants (HHCAs) working in Ireland is scarce, and the resources required by HHCAs to remain in post are predominantly unexplored. Aims: This study aimed to understand the lived experiences of HHCAS. Objectives: The objectives of the study were to; (1) To explore the experience of delivering care as a HHCA, (2) To establish how work demands affect HHCAs (3) To identify resources needed to support retention of HHCAs. Methods: A Qualitative explorative study consisting of online interviews with ten HHCAs who had a minimum of six months of experience working in home care settings. Thematic analysis was undertaken on the data. Results: HHCAs experienced challenges and demands within their role before the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of these challenges were emphasised as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic introduced new challenges within the HHCA's job. The challenges outlined by HHCAs included; time pressure, challenges to providing PCC and social isolation. Finally, this study identified that HHCAs require resources that enable them to provide PCC optimising their ability to make a difference in their clients’ lives. Conclusion: Participants explained that their jobs as HHCAs required more than completing tasks yet also a personal and emotional connection between them and their clients. Participants described this emotional connection also extended towards their co-workers as they described a sense of community support they experienced from their colleagues. A key area that participants identified was the need for social inclusion among HHCAs. Additional research is required to establish how the addition of these resources may influence the work experience of HHCAs. Given the current recruitment and retention issues faced by HCOs across Ireland, this research offers valuable insight into the resource needs identified by HHCAs, namely the recognition of the value and importance of HHCAs to establish a positive rapport with their clients through delivering PCC