Catch up with Faculty staff in the media this week. Through their writing, speaking, research and expert comment on the issues of the day, they improve our knowledge and understanding of the world.
Listings are in staff alphabetical order. Any School groupings appear at the end of the listings. Please click on the relevant link(s) in each section to access the media item.
Michael Becker, School of Law, provides expert comment in this article published by CBC News Canada on reports that a high-tech Canadian-made camera system was used as part of controversial U.S. strikes against alleged Venezuelan drug boats, according to the non-governmental organization Project Ploughshares. CBC.CA News 06 October 2025: Canadian tech helped U.S. strike alleged Venezuelan drug boats: report.
Dr Brendan Ciarán Browne, School of Religion, Theology, and Peace Studies, contributed to a piece on the recent Trump offer of a “peace plan” to the Palestinians titled 'Between the sword and the neck' in which he argues that this is not a serious plan for peace. Opinio Juris website 02 October 2025: Colonial Logic Redux: Scholars Comment on Trump and Netanyahu’s Proposal.
Dr Brian Hanley, School of Histories and Humanities, writes a book review of Mark Mazower’s book on antisemitism, saying that this is a book that can contribute to honest discussions that are desperately needed in a new age of racism, war and genocide. Irish Times 04 October 2025: Mark Mazower’s On Antisemitism: A Word in History - Clear, comprehensive and nuanced. (Subscriber content)
Joel Herman, Research Fellow at the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland and School of Histories and Humanities, appeared on the Talking History podcast as part of a panel to discuss the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, Irish involvement in the conflict and the impact it had on our history. Newstalk Radio Talking History podcast 07 October 2025: Ireland and the American Revolution.
Professor David Kenny, School of Law, provides expert comment and assesses the news that Jim Gavin's name will remain on the ballot paper for the presidential election. RTÉ Radio 1 Morning Ireland 07 October 2025: Jim Gavin's name will stay on Presidential ballot paper.
Dr Rosie Lavan, School of English. A new book, ‘The Poems of Seamus Heaney’ by Seamus Heaney, edited by Rosie Lavan and Bernard O’Donoghue with Matthew Hollis, is published by Faber & Faber on 09 October 2025. The book features in the media this week.
- Dr Lavan’s new book is reviewed as the Guardian ‘Book of the day’ which states that ‘This book is a landmark … compiled with loving expertise, leaving no stone unturned’. The Guardian 09 October 2025: The Poems of Seamus Heaney review - collected works reveal his colossal achievement.
- An article on the new book is on the RTÉ website 09 October 2025: New Seamus Heaney collection contains 25 unpublished poems.
- Dr Lavan is a guest on Morning Ireland to discuss the new book on the collections of Seamus Heaney, which includes 25 previously unpublished works. RTÉ Radio 1 Morning Ireland 09 October 2025: 25 previously unpublished Heaney poems released.
- Dr Lavan writes about Seamus Heaney’s poem Ribbons, a poem about his sisters, through a photograph of Heaney and four of his siblings. The poem is extracted from the new book, ‘The Poems of Seamus Heaney’ by Seamus Heaney. Irish Times 04 October 2025: Seamus Heaney’s Ribbons: A beautiful poem about his sisters, published for the first time.
- Further information on the book is available on the publisher’s website here.
Professor Rachel Moss, School of Histories and Humanities, sheds new light on Book of Kells origins, in an article she has written for The Conversation on 03 October 2025: Book of Kells: exploring the evidence that points to Pictish origins in north-east Scotland.
Dr Barra Roantree, School of Social Sciences and Philosophy, appears on radio on discuss and provide expert comment on inheritance tax. RTÉ Radio 1 Today with Claire Byrne on 03 October 2025: Should inheritance tax for farms and businesses be cut?