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Biography

PhD (University of Cambridge, 1996)

Mervyn possesses an active record of service on several School, College and University committees. He is keenly interested in graduate education and convenes the School of History's Graduate Studies Committee. He was heavily engaged in the development of Politics at BA level at UCC.

Mervyn has published extensively on Anglo-French-American nuclear diplomacy and alliance, politics, the history of European nuclear cooperation, Irish-German interactions in the 20th century,  Ireland's place in the world (particularly with Western Europe and the European integration process including the general history of Ireland). His other research interests include 20th century Europe, European integration, nuclear history, the Cold War, the Anglo-American 'Special Relationship' and Anglo-French relations. He has delivered papers at many national and international conferences,  including several invited and keynote addresses, throughout Ireland, the UK, Europe, China and the US. Mervyn's publications on Irish-German relations, Irish neutrality, nuclear history, and Irish-European links are critically acknowledged and well-cited. For instance, in 2014 he organised a major Irish conference on disarmament and non-proliferation attracting an international field of contributors. This resulted in a special issue of Irish Studies in International Affairs. The second edition of Ireland, Germany, and the Nazis: Politics and Diplomacy was published in early summer 2017.  His new seminal Ireland, West Germany and the New Europe, 1949-73: Best Friend and Ally? is in the final stages of production and will be published by Manchester Universty Press in January 2018. Mervyn is also completing a lengthy co-authored double volume work on Ireland's path to the EEC. This will be completed in 2018. 

Mervyn actively engages with several professional and academic associations. He is chair of the Royal Irish Academy’s International Affairs Standing Committee and a member of the Advisory Committee on the Dictionary of Irish Biography (published by Cambridge University Press). He has associations with many journals including memberships of several editorial and advisory boards (see journal activities). In the past decade and a half, as a sole investigator or as a member of various consortia, he has established a track record of gaining research funding from a variety of sources (external to UCC) including the Irish Research Council, the European Parliament, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, National University of Ireland, PRTLI, HEA North-South Research Programme etc.  He has supervised four IRC Government of Ireland PhD Scholars and mentored one IRC Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellow. In sum, Mervyn has supervised 10 Ph.D.s to successful completion, 2 MPhils and over 100 MAs. 

Research Interests

Modern Irish political history, especially Irish diplomacy and foreign policy. A focus on European relations, neutrality, small state diplomacy and European integration.

Nuclear history and politics and strategy (national programmes of America, Britain, and France; Ireland and the Non-Proliferation Treaty; Euratom - European Atomic Energy Community)

Anglo-French-American diplomacy in the fields of defence, nuclear weapons and European integration during the Cold War

International history and International Relations

History and politics of European integration

Publications

Books

	Year	Publication
	(2018)	Ireland, West Germany and the New Europe, 1949-1973: Best Friend and Ally?.  Mervyn O'Driscoll (2018) Ireland, West Germany and the New Europe, 1949-1973: Best Friend and Ally?. Manchester, UK: Manchester University Press.  [Details]
	(2017)	Ireland, Germany and the Nazis: Politics and Diplomacy, 1919-1939 (2nd ed).  Mervyn O'Driscoll (2017) Ireland, Germany and the Nazis: Politics and Diplomacy, 1919-1939 (2nd ed). Dublin: Four Courts Press.   [Details]
	(2013)	Ireland Through European Eyes; Western Europe, the EEC and Ireland, 1945-1973.  Mervyn O'Driscoll, Dermot Keogh & Jérôme aan de Wiel (2013) Ireland Through European Eyes; Western Europe, the EEC and Ireland, 1945-1973. Cork: Cork University Press.   [Details]
	(2004)	Ireland in World War Two: Neutrality and Survival.  Mervyn O'Driscoll; Dermot Keogh (2004) Ireland in World War Two: Neutrality and Survival. Cork: Mercier Press. [Details]
	(2004)	Ireland, Germany and the Nazis: Politics and Diplomacy, 1919-1939.  Mervyn O'Driscoll (2004) Ireland, Germany and the Nazis: Politics and Diplomacy, 1919-1939. Dublin: Four Courts Press. [Details]
	(2002)	The European Parliament and the Euratom Treaty: Past, Present and Future.  Mervyn O'Driscoll, Gordon Lake & Linda Lodge; (2002) The European Parliament and the Euratom Treaty: Past, Present and Future. : European Parliament. [Details]

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Professional Activity

Year	Title	Awarding Body
	2005	IRCHSS Fellowship	Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences (IRCHSS)
	2001	Honorary Research Fellowship	School of Languages and European Studies, University of Wolverhampton, UK
	1995	Junior Research Fellowship	Wolfson College, University of Cambridge, UK
	1992	Cork Examiner Scholarship
	1992	ESRC PhD Studentship	Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), UK
	1992	Chevening Scholar	Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK
	1990	Title of College Scholar	UCC
	1989	UCC Scholarship	UCC

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Teaching Activity

International history, International Relations theory and history, diplomacy

Nuclear history, politics, proliferation and statecraft 

Irish foreign policy and diplomacy especially Ireland and Europe in the twentieth century, notably Irish-German interactions (bilateral, multilateral and transnational)

European integration history & politics

Foreign and defence policies of Britain, France, America and Germany since 1945

Twentieth-century Irish political and economic History