The School of Social Work and Social Policy is deeply saddened by the loss of our friend and colleague Dr. Michael Feely, Assistant Professor in Social Work. Michael was a brilliant thinker and educator, always challenging the status quo with an openness of spirit and kindness. He has had a profound influence on us all, and particularly on the many students who speak so highly of him.
Michael joined the School in 2014 when he was appointed as an Assistant Professor in Social Work. He attained a BA (Honours) in English Literature and History from Trinity College Dublin, a Higher Diploma in Social Policy and a Masters of Social Work from University College Dublin. Following his qualification as a social worker, Michael worked in services for people with intellectual disabilities. Both his academic work and professional practice reflected a life-long commitment to inclusion of people with disabilities. Michael was awarded his PhD in Sociology in Queen’s University Belfast in 2014 for a thesis entitled: Sexuality and Intellectual Disability: A Critical Cartography of a Community-Based Service. His thesis was described by the external examiner, Professor Dan Goodley as a:
‘fantastic, brave and paradigm-shifting thesis; accessible, fascinating, painful and bursting with wit in equal measure, with real passion and commitment to the complex and challenging lives of people with the label of intellectual disabilities.’
These qualities carried through into all aspects of Michael’s work. He continued to publish in the areas of intellectual disability, self-advocacy, sexuality and gender, social theory and critical theory, including in work conducted alongside peer researchers for Inclusion Ireland and the National Disability Authority, and in highly cited articles in the journals Sexualities, Disability and Society and Qualitative Research. Michael brought a striking originality of thought to his work and had a unique ability to convey complex social theory in engaging and accessible ways.
These commitments were also evident in his teaching, where Michael was part of a pioneering collaboration involving a group of self-advocates with intellectual disabilities to co-design, co-deliver and co-assess an entire disability module for undergraduate social work students. In 2015 Michael received an award from Trinity College for teaching innovation for this work. Michael’s talents as an educator who was wholly committed to inclusion have been noted by generations of social work students for whom he was an inspiring teacher. His work also influenced a number of PhD students whom he supervised as well as many others who were inspired by him.
We will miss him greatly as a much-loved colleague and friend, who brought great joy to our School. We send our deepest condolences to his wife, Jen and his children Daniel and Alice, his mother, siblings and his wide circle of friends.
May he rest in peace.
Professor Nicola Carr
Head of School