A PHD ORAL HISTORY PROJECT
When a Marriage Ends, In Your Words
“Irish Farm Women’s Experiences of Marital Breakdown, Separation, and Divorce since 1986: An Oral History”
This page is for anyone thinking about taking part in my PhD research. It explains what the project is about, who I'm hoping to talk to, what being interviewed involves, and how I keep your story safe.
THE PROJECT
Why farm women's stories, and why now
Farming in Ireland has always been a male-dominated world, and the women in it — especially those whose marriages broke down — haven't always been given much room to tell their side of things. Since the divorce referendum in 1986, plenty has changed: the laws, the courts, how openly people talk about it. But what it was actually like to go through a separation or divorce as a woman living on a family farm? That part has mostly gone untold.
That's what this project is trying to capture — in women's own words, through recorded conversations. Not just the legal side, but the real stuff: what happened to the family, the land, the house, the finances, and everything else that comes with it.
Their experiences say a great deal about Ireland today, and the journey we took to get here.
WHAT IS ORAL HISTORY?
Just sitting down and talking
Oral history just means sitting down with someone and recording their story, in their own words. Your memories and experiences are real historical evidence — especially the stories that never made it into official records, court files, or newspapers.
WHO I'M HOPING TO TALK TO
Farm women whose marriage has ended
I'm hoping to talk to women with a farming background — whether you grew up on a farm or married into one — anywhere in the Republic of Ireland, whose marriage ended at some point between 1986 and the end of 2021, whether through living apart informally, a deed of separation, judicial separation, divorce, or something else entirely.
There's no "right" kind of story here. Not sure if you fit the bill? Get in touch anyway — we can chat about it, with no obligation to go any further.
WHAT'S INVOLVED
From getting in touch to the interview
Getting in touch isn't a commitment. Reach out just to ask a question or find out more, and that's exactly what this is for — you're free to stop at any point, including right after you first get in touch, with no explanation needed.
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You get in touch, whenever suits you By email or phone — just to say you're interested, or to ask a question. This step does not commit you to anything. Ask as much or as little as you like, and take your time thinking it over — you may never contact me again if that's what you'd prefer.
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An informal chat, if you'd like one If you want to know more, we can talk through the project, what taking part would actually involve, and how your privacy is protected. This is a conversation, not an interview — nothing is recorded, and you're still under no obligation to go any further. This is a natural stopping point, and that's completely fine.
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The interview itself, on your terms The interview is an in-person, one-to-one, audio-recorded conversation, in a location of your choice — usually around two hours, though it can run shorter or longer. You can pause, skip any question, or stop altogether at any point.
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After the interview, it's still your call Even once the interview is done, you can still withdraw — any time up to four weeks afterward, no explanation needed. If you change your mind, just get in touch and I'll remove your interview from the project.
YOUR PRIVACY
How your story is looked after
This project has been checked and approved by the university's ethics committee, and looking after the people who take part was a big part of that. Here's what that means for you:
GET IN TOUCH
No pressure, no obligation — just a conversation
All it takes is a short email or call. I'm happy to answer questions before you decide anything.