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Ms. Tracey O'Neill
Assistant Professor, School of Nursing & Midwifery
Email troneill@tcd.ie Phone3531896 3377Biography
Tracey O' Neill is an Assistant Professor in Children's Nursing, a PhD candidate and the Senior Sophister B.Sc Course Coordinator in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin. She is a Registered Children's Nurse, a Registered Nurse in Intellectual Disability, and a Registered Nurse Tutor.
Tracey is an active member of interdisciplinary research teams and is affiliated with several research centres in Trinity College Dublin, including TRiCC (Trinity Research in Childhood Centre), the Child Health & Well-being Research Theme within the Trinity Centre for Maternity Care Research (TCMCR), and the Trinity Centre for Practice and Healthcare Innovation (TCPHI).
Her research focuses on child and family health, with expertise in domestic violence, childhood diabetes, and diabetes technology. She is committed to ethical, child-centred inquiry, with specific expertise in participatory research methods involving children.
Tracey has successfully disseminated her research nationally and internationally, developing a strong track record in peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, and invited seminars. She has also contributed to the launch of funded research reports and has an emerging record of success in national and international grant applications.
An experienced and skilled educator, Tracey teaches across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in children's nursing. She is known for her innovative teaching approaches, including work with Academic Practice to embed AI in teaching and learning, and the use of high-fidelity clinical simulation. She is also actively engaged in developing collaborative relationships with clinical partners to enhance student learning and research collaborations.
Publications and Further Research Outputs
- Hill, K., Murphy, M., Hollywood, E. and O'Neill, T, Impact of COVID-19 on teaching an undergraduate children's nursing module: Rapid Responses. , All Ireland Journal of Higher Education, 12, (3), 2020, p1 - 10Journal Article, 2020, URL , TARA - Full Text
- Hollywood, E., Hill, K., Murphy, M. and O'Neill, T, A dash to 'get online'! How Covid19 arrived in Ireland and children's nurse education swiftly went virtual, Trinity Health and Education International Research Conference (THEconf2021), Online, 10th and 11th March, 2021, pp4 - 4Meeting Abstract, 2021
- O'Neill, T. Hollywood, E. and Banka Cullen, S, The use of diabetes technology in the primary school setting: experiences of children and their families. A scoping review protocol, Trinity Health and Education International Research Conference (THEconf2023), School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland, 7-9 March, 2023Meeting Abstract, 2023, URL
- O Neill, T., Hollywood, E., & Prakashini-Banka Cullen, S., Use of diabetes technologies in the primary school environment: a scoping review protocol, JBI evidence synthesis., 2024Journal Article, 2024, DOI , TARA - Full Text
- Hollywood, E. O"Neill, T. and Fitzgerald, H., School-aged children and the management of Type 1 Diabetes in the primary school environment: an investigation of how to support children, parents, and schools., Trinity Health and Education International Research Conference 2024 (THEconf2024) New Horizons in Healthcare: Global Impact, Local Relevance., School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland, 5-7th March, 2024Meeting Abstract, 2024
- O"Neill, T. Banka-Cullen, S. and Hollywood, E., The use of diabetes technologies in the primary school environment: A scoping review protocol., Trinity Health and Education International Research Conference 2024 (THEconf2024) New Horizons in Healthcare: Global Impact, Local Relevance., School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland, 5-7th March, 2024Meeting Abstract, 2024
- Hollywood, E., O"Neill, T. and Fitzgerald, H., School-aged children and the management of Type 1 Diabetes in the primary school environment: an investigation of how to support children, parents and schools., ISPAD Inclusion and Innovation in Pediatric Diabetes, Lisbon, Portugal, 16th - 19th October, 2024Meeting Abstract, 2024
- Hollywood, E., O"Neill, T. and Fitzgerald, H., Supporting children with Type 1 Diabetes: A mixed methods evaluation of a hospital-based education programme for school personnel, ISPAD Inclusion and Innovation in Pediatric Diabetes, Lisbon, Portugal, 16th - 19th October, 2024Meeting Abstract, 2024
- Hollywood E, and O Neill, T, Supporting women and children who have experienced domestic violence and abuse in the community setting, Childrens Research Network and UCD CHilD-RC Annual Conference, Navigating Current and Emerging Challenges for Children and Young People, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland, 2024Meeting Abstract, 2024
- Hollywood, E and O'Neill, T, `Truly Be Me' Supporting Children in the Community who have Experienced Domestic Violence and Abuse, Trinity College Dublin, April, 2025, p1 - 95Report, 2025, TARA - Full Text
- Tracey O Neill, Lisa Kirwan, Using GenAI to transform teaching methods and enhance students' learning outcomes in Children"s and General Nursing students, Teaching & Learning Symposium 2025, Trinity College Dublin, 28/05/2025, 2025, Centre for Academic Practice TCDInvited Talk, 2025, URL
- Hollywood, E., and O'Neill, T., Supporting women and children who have experienced domestic violence and abuse in the community setting, European Conference on Domestic Violence 2025, Barcelona, Spain, 3-5th September 2025, 2025Conference Paper, 2025
- Dr. Eleanor Hollywood, Tracey O Neill, Muluken Basa, Parental satisfaction in the management of their children's Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) in the primary school environment., Trinity Health and Education International Research Conference 2025 (THEconf2025) 'Healthcare in times of crisis: adaptive responses and global innovations', Trinity College Dublin, 4th - 6th March 2025, 2025Conference Paper, 2025
- Tracey O Neill, Dr Eleanor Hollywood Dr Thelma Begley, The Use of Technology in the Management Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) in the primary school environment: The Experiences of Irish school-aged children and their parents., Trinity Health and Education International Research Conference 2025 (THEconf2025) 'Healthcare in times of crisis: adaptive responses and global innovations', Trinity College Dublin, 4th - 6th March 2025, 2025Poster, 2025
- Dr Eleanor Hollywood, Tracey O Neill, `Truly Be Me" Supporting Children in the Community who have Experienced Domestic Violence and Abuse, Report launch of `Truly Be Me" Supporting Children in the Community who have Experienced Domestic Violence and Abuse, Cuan, the Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (DSGBV) Agency 34-37 Clarendon Street, Dublin 2, D02DE61, 12th June 2025, 2025Invited Talk, 2025
- Hollywood, E., O"Neill, T and Basa, M., Parental satisfaction in the management of their children's Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) in the primary school environment., Trinity Health and Education International Research Conference 2025 (THEconf2025)., School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland, 5th - 6th March, 2025Conference Paper, 2025
- Hollywood E, O'Neill T, Assessment and management of scalds and burns in children., Nursing Children and Young People, 26, (2), 2014, p28-33Journal Article, 2014, DOI , TARA - Full Text
Research Expertise
Key aspects of my research include:
- Diabetes technology use in children with Type 1 Diabetes.
- Supporting children with T1D in primary school
- Child health and well-being following domestic violence.
- Child participatory techniques in research.
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TitleAn Evaluation of the Community Children's Programme for Meath Women's Refuge and Support Services (MWRSS).SummaryThe project aims to evaluate the practice and impact of the Community Children's Programme at Meath Women's Refuge and Support Services (MWRSS).Funding AgencyMeath Women's Refuge and Support Services (MWRSS).Date From1/4/2024Date To31/03/2025
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TitleDesign-a-Study Day: A Co-Design PPI Workshop with Children on Managing Chronic Illness at SchoolSummaryThis half-day PPI event, titled Design-a-Study Day, invites primary school-aged children with and without chronic illnesses (e.g., asthma, epilepsy) to participate in a co-design workshop that explores how health is experienced and supported in schools. Through structured, child-friendly mini-workshops, children will brainstorm, prioritise themes, and co-create research questions and project ideas that reflect their experiences of how their health is managed during the school day.
The workshop will promote equity, empower children as co-researchers, and provide valuable insight into child-centred research design. Parents will be invited to remain on-site in a supportive "coffee corner," ensuring a welcoming and safe environment. The workshop findings will inform future research on health supports in schools, led by the applicants.Funding AgencyTrinity PPI Festival Fund 2025 -
TitleBainnE: Breastfeeding Experiences of Mothers of Children with Down Syndrome in Ireland: A Sequential Explanatory Mixed Methods Case StudySummaryBreast milk confers numerous documented benefits, including the provision of optimal nutrition,
promotion of appropriate growth and development, and reduction in the incidence of infectious
diseases among infants. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding
up to 6 months of age and continuation alongside complementary feeding until the age of 2 years. The
advantages of breastfeeding extend to both the mother and infant, including not only physiological
and medical outcomes but also psychological and emotional well-being through maternal"infant
bonding. Ireland's breastfeeding rates are amongst the lowest in Europe, with breastfeeding rates of
infants with Down Syndrome being even lower. Several factors contribute to these low rates for infants
with Down Syndrome, such as medical complications, including anatomical structural barriers. The
proposed project presented in this application seeks to explore the breastfeeding experiences of
mothers of children with Down Syndrome in Ireland to help develop more effective and responsive
support services. This seed funding will facilitate a two-phased approach to explore breastfeeding
initiation, exclusivity and duration amongst this cohort of breastfeeding mothers. Findings will inform
breastfeeding and maternal-child health strategies. Furthermore, it will offer new insights with the
potential to revolutionise breastfeeding support for families of children with Down Syndrome.Funding AgencyDean"s Research Initiatives Fund 2025"26 Application -
TitleNEXT-REALITY: EXTENDED REALITY AND CITIZEN SCIENCE-BASED PREPAREDNESS ECOSYSTEM FOR VULNERABLE POPULATION"S RESPONSE TO DISASTER AND HEALTH EMERGENCIES (NEXT-REALITY)SummaryneXt-Reality aims to improve preparedness for and management of disasters and health emergencies by developing and
implementing an eXtended Reality and Citizen Science-based preparedness ecosystem to empower vulnerable groups, particularly
children and young people (C&YP).Funding AgencyHORIZON-AG
Public and Patient Involvement in Health Research, Adolescent health, Paediatrics, Endocrinology, Infant and child health, Nursing,
Recognition
- Current representative of the Children's Nursing Discipline on the SNM curriculum review committee
- Current member of the NCNN (Ireland's National Children's Nursing Network).
- Current representative of the Children's Nursing Discipline on the LEAP (Linking Education and Practice) committee
- Current representative of the Children's Nursing Discipline from TCD on the Children's Health Ireland (CHI) Nurse Practice Committee.