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.
Professor Ruth Barton, School of Creative Arts, was a guest on the Newstalk ‘Talking History’ show to discuss Orson Welles on the 40th anniversary of his death, ‘his genius, the myths around him, and his deep connections to Ireland’. Newstalk radio -Talking History on 21 October 2025: Orson Welles.
Professor David Collings, Trinity Business School. A new report, co-authored by Professor Collings and Dr Shirley Kavanagh, for Scale Ireland has found that Ireland faces a considerable challenge to meet the future skills needs of its indigenous IT sector. The report is featured in a number of media items:
- RTÉ website on 17 October 2025: Ireland's current skills supply insufficient to meet future demand - report.
- Business Post 17 October 2025: Ireland faces ‘serious challenge’ in meeting skills demand for future tech sector.
- The report is available on the Scale Ireland website here.
Professor Massimo Faggioli, School of Religion, Theology, and Peace Studies, provides expert comment to La Vanguardia in Spain about the Catholic Church in North America. La Vanguardia 20 October 2025: La ofensiva de los conservadores pone a prueba al papa León XIV.
Professor David Kenny, School of Law, provides expert comment in this piece on the presidential election for Primetime. RTÉ website 22 October 2025: The potentially key presidential powers that have never been used.
Professor Gail McElroy, School of Social Sciences and Philosophy, provides expert comment in media items about the upcoming Irish presidential election.
- The Guardian 20 October 2025: 'It hasn’t inspired': turnout concerns grow close to Ireland’s presidential election.
- RTÉ Radio 1 Drivetime on 21 October 2025: Preview of upcoming Primetime presidential election debate.
- Professor McElroy has written an article on the upcoming presidential election in the Conversation on 22 October 2025: Ireland’s presidential election race now down to two women.
Dr Barra Roantree, School of Social Sciences and Philosophy, argues that gutting of the local property tax may be welcomed by homeowners, but it just means we’re reliant on more economically damaging taxes in this article in the Irish Times 19 October 2025: I'm sorry but your local property tax needs to go up. (Subscriber Content).
Dr Joe Whelan, School of Social Work and Social Policy, is a co-author in a new research report ‘Education First?: Lone parents’ lived experience of the challenges and benefits of participating in higher education’. The report authors are Dr Fiona Dukelow, Dr Margaret Scanlon and Edith Busteed (all in UCC) and Dr Whelan (TCD), with One Family as a research partner.
- The report features in an on Extra.ie on 21 October 2025: Childcare costs locking lone parents out of an education.
- The full report is available on the One Family organisation website here.