About This Course
Fact File
-
Title
History - The Irish Revolution 1912-1923
-
Code
MAIRV
-
College
-
Duration
1 Year Full-time; 2 Years Part-time
-
Teaching Mode
Full-time
-
Qualifications
MA
-
EU Fees
€6,130; €3,130 (Year 1 Part-time); €3,130 (Year 2 Part-time)
See Fees and Costs for full details. Non-EU Fees
€16,400
-
Entry Requirements
See Requirements for full details.
-
Start Date
Not on offer 2023/2024
Course Outline
The aim of the course is to introduce students to, familiarise them with, and inculcate an advanced understanding of, the events of, sources for the study of, lines of historiographical enquiry relating to, and social memory and commemoration of, the revolutionary decade in modern Irish history from the start of the crisis over the third home rule bill in 1912 to the conclusion of the Irish civil war in 1923.
Upon completion of the course you will be able to:
- Evaluate the significance of the principal issues and problems of the ‘revolutionary decade’ in modern Irish history, 1912-23;
- Summarise the competing interpretations of the significance of the events of the ‘revolutionary decade’;
- Compare the relative advantages and disadvantages of public and academic histories of the ‘revolutionary decade’;
- Evaluate and incorporate new insights informed by the forefront of the field of learning;
- Judge the value of the source material available for the study of this period;
- Assess the contribution of the work of specific historians to our understating of the ‘revolutionary decade’.
The first module, Sources and Debates in the Irish Revolution, examines contemporary writings, speeches and debates of the revolutionary period, with the attention on such figures as Padraig Pearse, James Connolly, Edward Carson, James Craig, David Lloyd George, Arthur Griffith, Terence MacSwiney, Constance Markiewicz, and many others. Students will also be introduced to the source material available for the study of the period, in both manuscript and online forums, such as government archives, newspapers, IRA pension applications, Bureau of Military History testimonies, police records, and the like.
The second module, Historiography of the Irish Revolution, examines the arguments and interpretation of the events by historians from the 1920s to the present day.
The final module, Public History, Commemoration, and the Irish Revolution, focuses on the role of ‘public history’, that is, the use of the events of this ‘revolutionary decade’ by politicians and other groups and individuals to promote contemporary agendas.
The research module gives candidates the opportunity to explore in-depth the subject matter of their proposal.
Programme Requirements
Students take modules to the value of 90 credits comprising taught modules to the value of 45 credits (Part I) and a dissertation to the value of 45 credits (Part II).
Part I
- HI6042 Sources and debates in the Irish revolution (15 credits);
- HI6049 Historiography of the Irish revolution (15 credits)
- HI6050 Public history, commemoration, and the Irish revolution (15 credits)
Part II
- HI6100 History Dissertation (45 credits): A dissertation of a maximum of 20,000 words must be submitted by a specified date in September.
For further details and module descriptions, see the Postgraduate Academic Calendar
Modules
Further details on modules can be found in our Book of Modules. Any modules listed are indicative of the current set of modules for this course but are subject to change from year to year.
University Calendar
You can find the full academic content for the current year of any given course in our University Calendar.
Course Practicalities
The course is a full-time one, and delivered using a variety of teaching methods. The principal mechanism will be by means of seminar discussions, but there will also be opportunities for students to present their research findings, together with field trips to some of the sites in Cork city and county associated with the revolutionary period, including places such as Kilmichael, Crossbarry and Béal na mBláth.
There will be a mixture of lectures and seminars, averaging 4-5 class hours a week, plus individual tutorial discussions. In HI6042 there is also the week-long field trip (5 days, 4 nights away).
The programme utilises a variety of continuous assessment methods, including essays, book reviews and the analysis of document, artefacts, and televisual and cinematic productions. There are no written examinations.
The part-time option will be taught during weekday working hours over 2 years.
Why Choose This Course
Skills and Careers Information
Graduates of the course will be well-placed, either to continue to continue with further study of the period (the course serving as an ideal preparation for doctoral-level research), or to apply for the numerous jobs relating to the revolutionary decade that will arise in heritage, media, research and tourism areas, as a result of the heightened interest in the period produced by their centenaries.
Requirements
The entry requirement is a Second Class Honours Grade I in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) or equivalent in History or a cognate discipline.
Candidates who hold a Second Class Honours Grade II in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) in History or a cognate discipline will also be considered subject to a written expression of interest and/or interview consistent with the school selection procedures.
In exceptional circumstances, substantial professional experience in a relevant and related field of employment (such as, but not restricted to, teaching, archives, museums, the heritage or tourism industries), that equips the candidate with the knowledge, skills and attributes required to undertake an MA programme, may be accepted as compensating for the absence of an undergraduate degree to the required standard. All such applications to be considered under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) on a case-by-case basis by the programme coordinator and would be subject to the approval of the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Science.
For Applicants with Qualifications Completed Outside of Ireland
Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements. For more information see our Qualification Comparison page.
International/Non-EU Applicants
For full details of the non-EU application procedure visit our how to apply pages for international students.
- In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.
- Note that not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above. For more information contact the International Office.
English Language Requirements
Applicants that are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university-approved English language requirements. Please visit our PG English Language Requirements page for more information.
Fees and Costs
The EU fee for this course is €6,130; €3,130 (Year 1 Part-time); €3,130 (Year 2 Part-time).
The Non-EU fee for this course is €16,400.
Deposits
If your course required a deposit, that figure will be deducted from your second-semester fee payment in January.
EU student fee payment
Fees for EU students are payable in two equal instalments. First payment is at registration in August and the second in January.
International student fee payment
International Students can pay in two equal instalments once they have paid the appropriate deposit. The initial payment is due on registration and the balance usually by the end of January.
How can I pay?
You can pay by Credit/Debit card online or by credit transfer.
Questions?
If you have any questions on fee payment please contact the Fees Office.
How Do I Apply
1. Check Dates: Check the opening and closing dates for the application process in the fact file boxes at the top of the page.
- For Irish and EU applicants we operate a rounds system and you can check the rounds closing dates here.
- Note that not all our programmes are subject to the rounds system so check the opening and closing dates for your specific programme in the fact file boxes above.
2. Gather Documents: Scanned copies of supporting documents have to be uploaded to the UCC online application portal and include:
- Original qualification documents listed on your application including transcripts of results from institutions other than UCC.
- Any supplementary items requested for your course if required.
3. Apply Online: Apply online via the UCC online application portal. Note the majority of our courses have a non-refundable €50 application fee.
- Any questions? Use our web enquiry form to contact us.
Additional Requirements
Please note you will be required to provide additional information as part of the online application process for this programme. This will include the following questions:
-
You may enter the details of professional or voluntary positions held. We strongly encourage you to complete this section with all relevant work experiences that will support your application.
-
Please describe your motivation and readiness for this programme.
- Briefly describe a research proposal which may form the basis of your dissertation. A proposal covering (but not limited to) such matters as a summary description of the proposed topic, a list of major research questions to be investigated, a brief summary of existing literature on the subject, and an outline of how the proposed research will add to this literature, must also accompany every application.
Admission to the course is based on a combination of the applicant’s undergraduate degree and results, the quality of the proposal submitted, any other relevant information (eg evidence of a prior interest in, and commitment to, the subject matter). Where it is deemed necessary, an applicant will be required to attend an interview with the programme co-ordinator. All applications will be considered by a programme selection committee.
Apply Now