Norma Owens is a PhD research historian at the University of Galway.
Initially pursued a career as a primary educator, developing skills in communication, pedagogy, and curriculum development. Subsequently earned a degree in photography, gaining expertise in the analysis of visual sources, skills that are now applied to non-textual historical sources. Graduated in 2024 with a first-class honours MA in History and the highest marks ever awarded for the thesis element. Developed expertise in network analysis to maximise the research potential of scant archival sources characteristic of marginalised groups. Two years’ experience tutoring undergraduates in history. Promotes public engagement with heritage and history, conducting research that was key to Headford Lace Project‘s successful campaing for inclusion of Headford Lacemaking in the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Committed to an academic career that embraces interdisciplinary historical inquiry, with a passion for research, teaching, and public engagement.
In 2024, won the MacCurtain/Cullen Essay Prize in Irishwomen’s History from the Women’s History Association of Ireland and was awarded the Galway Doctoral Research Scholarship from the Centre for the Investigation of Transnational Encounters (CITE) at the University of Galway. Current research examines Irish lacemaking networks with continental Europe (c.1730-c.1845).
EDUCATION
University of Galway, Ireland: 2024-present – PhD Researcher, Department of History.
- Supervisor: Dr. Róisín Healy
- Thesis title: ‘Pre-famine Irish lacemaking networks with continental Europe (c.1730-1845)’
- This project examines lacemaking in Ireland from the beginning of systematic lacemaking production in the 1730s to the famine of the 1840s, when lacemaking became widespread nationwide. While much study has been conducted on the famine and post-famine period, little is known about the genesis of these important industries. My research aims to establish the extent and nature of early endeavours by Irish women to develop lace industries and the place of those enterprises within the broader European context. Specifically, it traces the transfer of specialised knowledge through interdisciplinary research methodologies relying on social network analysis and material culture. The social context for the industry in Ireland is examined, particularly as it pertains to female entrepreneurship in the typically male sphere of industry.
University of Galway, Ireland: 2022-2024 (part-time)– MA History, First Class Honours. First in class.
Technological University Dublin (formerly Dublin Institute of Technology), Ireland: 2003-2007 – Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in Photography, First Class Honours
University of Limerick, Ireland: 1994-1997 – Bachelor of Education, Second Class Honours, Grade I
RESEARCH INTERESTS
- Women’s History
- Social History
- Social Network Analysis
- Knowledge Transfer
- Long 18th Century
- Textile Industries
PUBLICATIONS
Book Reviews
2024 – ‘Review of The Burning of Knockcroghery Village, Co. Roscommon, 1921’ in Saothar: Journal of Irish Labour History.
Research Blogs
2020 – ‘The Lost Letter’ for Headford Lace Project.
2020 – ‘Two Queens Purchase Headford Lace’ for Headford Lace Project.
2019 – ‘A Portrait of Headford Lace’ for Headford Lace Project.
2019 – ‘Photogrammetry: St. George Headstone’ for Headford Lace Project.
2019 – ‘History of Headford Lace’ for Headford Lace Project
INVITED TALKS
2023 – ‘Reading Between the Threads: lace as a source for women’s labour history’. Irish Centre for the Histories of Labour & Class (ICHLC), University of Galway. Galway Mechanics’ Institute (8 March)
2022 – ‘History of Headford Lace’. Donaghpatrick-Kilcoona Heritage Society. Knockroon National School (13 October)
2021 – ‘Headford Lace in the Annie Woods Collection’. Galway City Museum. Online (21 August)
2020 – ‘The Headford Lace Project and The Space Between’ (with Fiona Harrington). International Organization of Lace, Inc. (IOLI). Online (31 October)
2019 – ‘History of Headford Lace’. Headford Lace Project. Castlehackett House, County Galway (07 July)
2019 – ‘Interlaced: The Lost History of Lacemaking in Headford and Cong’. Cong Moytura Historical Society. Crossroads Community Centre, Cong (29 May)
2019 – ‘History of Headford Lace’. European Capital of Culture: Galway. Anglers Rest Hotel, Headford (11 April)
2018 – ‘Headford Lace: A Forgotten History’. National Museum of Ireland. National Museum of Ireland – Country Life, Castlebar (21 April)
CONFERENCE PARTICIPATION
Papers Presented
2024 – ‘Poverty and Politics in the Cong Lace Industry’. Irish History Students’ Association. University of Galway (2 March)
2023 – ‘Was the Cong Lace Industry better than Home Rule?’. Economic and Social History Society of Ireland. University College Dublin (17 November)
2023 – ‘Was the Cong Lace Industry better than Home Rule?’. Women’s History Association of Ireland. University College Cork (27 May)
Living History Demonstration
2019 – ‘History in the Making: Headford Lace’. International Conference on the American Revolution. Museum of the American Revolution, Philadelphia (4 October)
TEACHING AND MENTORING EXPERIENCE
2023-present – Teaching Assistant, University of Galway, Ireland:
Tutorials on Early Cultural Encounters in Ireland and the Americas (First Year History)
Tutorials on Europe and Ireland, 1789-1918 (First Year History)
Tutorials on Early Medieval Ireland and Early Modern Europe (First Year History)
- Delivering undergraduate tutorials according to curriculum specifications, guiding discussion on key historical themes, texts, and methodologies.
- Facilitating critical thinking and historical analysis by leading group discussions, debates, and evaluations of primary and secondary sources.
- Conducting student assessment and providing feedback to support their learning.
- Engaging in professional development, such as Identifying & Responding to Students in Distress and at Risk.
- Collaborating with course instructors and other tutors to ensure consistency in content delivery and evaluation.
1997-2003 – Primary School Teacher, St. Mary’s National School, Enfield, Co. Meath, Ireland
- Creating lesson plans to deliver national curriculum.
- Formative assessment and assessment for learning (AFL).
- Implementing pedagogical skills and classroom management to accommodate a multitude of learning styles, physical or cognitive abilities or impairments, language proficiency, religious, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds as well as student behaviour.
POSITIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY
2024- present – PhD Representative to School Board. School of History and Philosophy, University of Galway, Ireland
- Participating in board meetings and committees, contributing to discussions on policy decisions affecting researchers, including safety training and professional engagement and outreach.
- Collaborating with faculty to implement initiatives to enrich the academic and research environment, such as securing funding for the school under the 2025 Postgraduate Research Environment Enhancement Scheme.
- Organising events to support strategic inter-departmental community-building for researchers in the School of History and Philosophy.