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ENG10130

Academic Year 2026/2027

Contemporary Irish Writing (ENG10130)

Subject:
English
College:
Arts & Humanities
School:
English, Drama & Film
Level:
1 (Introductory)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Professor Margaret Kelleher
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

What distinguishes contemporary Irish writing? What are its chief thematic preoccupations and formal innovations? Who are its leading authors, what are their chosen subjects and who were their influences? How are contemporary Irish literary works received by their readers, nationally and internationally, and how can the ongoing diversity in literary texts, and in readers’ reactions, be studied, and interpreted? Is contemporary writing defined by its relevance, its artistry, or its socio-political concerns? How do writers compose and structure their works?

This module will introduce readers to a range of contemporary Irish writings, spanning non-fiction, the novel, short stories and poetry, closely examining the choice of theme, the significance of form, and the nature of the works' impact. In analysing the depiction of contemporary Irish urban and rural society in contemporary fiction, we will engage with ongoing debates concerning the function and importance of literary representation in the context of social crisis and change. The interrogation of irishness and identity in the course texts will be examined as will writers' preoccupation with the transnational and the global.

Workshop discussions, supporting the core lectures, will also examine how these contemporary writings have been received to date by readers and critics, and trace the ongoing processes whereby the reputations of texts and their writers are formed and shaped. Each workshop will also incorporate formal exercises designed to ensure that first year students acquire the necessary skills for studying English: writing and close-reading; note-taking, research, and referencing; and effective use of electronic resources such as online journals, dedicated websites, reviews in news media.

Oein DeBhairduin, Why the Moon Travels (Skein Press, 2020)
Anne Enright, The Wren, The Wren (Jonathan Cape, 2023)
Nithy Kasa, How to Make Love to a Colonised Body (Doire Press, 2026)
Paula Meehan, The Solace of Artemis (Dedalus Press, 2023)
Colm Toibin, News from Dublin (Picador, 2026)



Note: These titles are available for purchase in the university bookshop, with a discount available for the course bundle, and are generally available in bookstores, on ebook or borrowable from your local library.

It is strongly recommended to join your local library now if you are not already a member and talk to your local librarian about ordering the course books by inter branch loan if your branch does not have a copy.


About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

Learning Objectives
- Familiarity with a range of contemporary Irish writing across a diversity of genres
- Ability to analyze and compare the significance of theme and form and to identify a range of formal devices within the works studied
- Critical scrutiny of existing reviews of contemporary Irish writing, and analysis of the characteristics and impact of literary reviewing
- Engagement in current debates concerning the function of literary representation in the context of contemporary social change
- Development of critical reading skills for a range of genres;
- Acquisition of basic skills in research, study, and writing
- Ability to use electronic resources such as online journals, databases, dedicated websites and media outlets

Indicative Module Content:

This schedule may change, closer to the time of the module's commencement

Week 1 Introduction
Week 2 Why The Moon Travels (folk tales)
Week 3 Interview with and reading by Oein DeBhairduin
Week 4 The Solace of Artemis (poetry)
Week 5 Interview with and reading by Paula Meehan
Week 6 The News from Dublin (short stories)
Week 7 Interview with and reading by Colm Tóibín
Week 8 How to Make Love to a Colonised Body (poetry)
Week 9 Interview with and reading by Nithy Kasa
Week 10 The Wren, The Wren (novel)
Week 11 Interview with and reading by Anne Enright

UNESCO highlights a set of key competencies that support individuals in their development and support society in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UCD has adapted these competencies and is combining them with others to form a general framework of learning competencies. This module will help you develop the competencies below to the levels specified. 
Learning Competency Additional Information Level

Collaboration

 The ability to learn from others; to understand and respect the needs, perspectives and actions of others (empathy); to understand, relate to and be sensitive to others (empathic leadership); to deal with conflicts in a group; and to facilitate collaborative and participatory problem solving. Advanced Beginner

Critical Thinking

 The ability to question norms, practices and opinions; to reflect on one’s own values, perceptions and actions. Advanced Beginner

Systems Thinking

 The ability to recognize and understand relationships; to analyse complex systems; to think of how systems are embedded within different domains and different scales; and to deal with uncertainty. Advanced Beginner

Strategic

 The ability to collectively develop and implement innovative actions that further sustainability at the local level and further afield. Novice

Integrated Problem Solving

 The overarching ability to apply different problem-solving frameworks to complex sustainability problems and develop viable, inclusive and equitable solution options that promote sustainable development, integrating the competencies in this list. Novice

Self-awareness

 The ability to reflect on one’s own role in the local community and (global) society; to continually evaluate and further motivate one’s actions; and to deal with one’s feelings and desires. Advanced Beginner

Normative

 The ability to understand and reflect on the norms and values that underlie one’s actions; and to negotiate values, principles, goals, and targets, in a context of conflicts of interest and trade-offs, uncertain knowledge and contradictions. Advanced Beginner

Anticipatory

 The ability to understand and evaluate multiple scenarios for the future – possible, probable and desirable; to create one’s own visions for the future; to apply the precautionary principle; to assess the consequences of actions; and to deal with risks and changes. Novice

Digital Literacy and Judgement

 The ability to access, evaluate, create and communicate information in digital environments; to engage critically, ethically and responsibly with digital technologies and digital information; to understand their opportunities, limitations, risks and impact on individual’s digital identities; and to exercise informed judgement in digital participation and decision-making. Advanced Beginner

AI Literacy & Agency

 The ability to understand, critically evaluate and responsibly engage with artificial intelligence; to recognise how AI systems are shaped by human values; to assess their ethical, social and environmental implications; and to exercise human judgement, agency and accountability in AI-related contexts. Advanced Beginner

Wellbeing

 Wellbeing is having the resources and skills to meet life's challenges, including attributes such as personal development skills, resilience, stress management, strengths, lifestyle skills, nutrition, physical activity, sleep, alcohol/substance use, academic skills, time management, goal setting, interpersonal skills, group work, communication. Advanced Beginner

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


Goal Name Description Coverage

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 5
 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

12
Tutorial

12
Specified Learning Activities

36
Autonomous Student Learning

40
Total

100

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This course is taught through lectures (one per week) and small-group tutorials (one per week).

The use of AI tools is not permitted in this module. Students are expected to engage directly with module materials and activities without the use of AI tools.

A proportion of written assignments in each module in the School of English, Drama and Film are subject to moderation, meaning they undergo a second layer of review by another grader. This is to promote consistency within and between modules in the same level and discipline.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): Short essay of 750 words worth 30%. Week 9 Graded No
30
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): Essay of 1250 words worth 40% Week 14 Graded No
40
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): Short essay of 500 words worth 30%
 Week 5 Graded No
30
 No

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Peer review activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Oein DeBhairduin, Why the Moon Travels (Skein Press, 2020)
Anne Enright, The Wren, The Wren (Jonathan Cape, 2023)
Nithy Kasa, How to Make Love to a Colonised Body (Doire Press, 2026)
Paula Meehan, The Solace of Artemis (Dedalus Press, 2023)
Colm Tóibín, The News from Dublin (Picador, 2026 )

Note: These titles are available for purchase in the university bookshop, with a discount available for the course bundle, and are generally available in bookstores, on ebook or borrowable from your local library.

It is strongly recommended to join your local library now if you are not already a member and talk to your local librarian about ordering the course books by inter branch loan if your branch does not have a copy.

Name Role
Professor Danielle Clarke Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Lucy Collins Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Katherine Ebury Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Tim Groenland Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor Margaret Kelleher Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor Adam Kelly Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Naomi McAreavey Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor Gerardine Meaney Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Emma Radley Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Rebecca Stephenson Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Taylor Follett Tutor
Ms Valerie Kennedy Tutor
Zoe Zavrotny Tutor

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Tues 10:00 - 10:50
Autumn Small Group Offering 2 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Wed 11:00 - 11:50
Autumn Small Group Offering 3 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Thurs 10:00 - 10:50
Autumn Small Group Offering 4 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Thurs 10:00 - 10:50
Autumn Small Group Offering 5 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Thurs 12:00 - 12:50
Autumn Small Group Offering 6 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Thurs 13:00 - 13:50
Autumn Small Group Offering 7 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Wed 11:00 - 11:50
Autumn Small Group Offering 8 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 Wed 12:00 - 12:50
Autumn Small Group Offering 9 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 Wed 13:00 - 13:50
Autumn Small Group Offering 10 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Thurs 11:00 - 11:50
Autumn Small Group Offering 12 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Wed 12:00 - 12:50
Autumn Small Group Offering 13 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Thurs 13:00 - 13:50
Autumn Small Group Offering 14 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Wed 09:00 - 09:50
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