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Political Science & Sociology

Brian McGrath

Lecturer Above The Bar

Contact Details

Lecturer
Political Science & Sociology
322
Arus Moyola
Newcastle road
Galway
Galway

T: 353 91 493405
E: brian.mcgrath@nuigalway.ie
 
researcher

Biography

Brian McGrath is the Programme Director for the MA in Community Development. He holds a Bachelor of Social Science from UCC, a MA (Community Development) from NUI Galway and a PhD (Land Economy) from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. 

He teaches at undergraduate level and contributes towards the teaching programme and research supervision of the three taught MAs (Community Development, Social Work and Family Support).  His current research interests are broadly:

Cultural traditions and development; Migration and Migrant Communities; Rural Society and Change; Children/Young people, Social ties and Communities; and Community Governance.

He is currently supervising three PhDs in the following areas: Muslim immigrant youth; youth transitions among farming youth; and cultural transmission in a Gaeltacht community.

Research Interests

sociology and politics of community
community development
sociology and politics of family
sociology and politics of youth
natural resources and communities

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2015) 'Farm, place and identity construction among Irish farm youth who migrate'
Cassidy, Anne and McGrath, Brian (2015) 'Farm, place and identity construction among Irish farm youth who migrate'. Journal Of Rural Studies, 37 :20-28 [DOI] [Details]
(2014) 'Understanding youth civic engagement: debates, discourses and lessons from practice'
Shaw, A., Brady, B., McGrath, B. Brennan, M. Dolan, P. (2014) 'Understanding youth civic engagement: debates, discourses and lessons from practice'. Community Development, 45 (4) [DOI] [Details]
(2014) 'The Relationship between ‘Non-successor’ Farm Offspring and the Continuity of the Irish Family Farm'
Anne (2014) 'The Relationship between ‘Non-successor’ Farm Offspring and the Continuity of the Irish Family Farm'. Sociologia Ruralis, [DOI] [Details]
(2014) 'The religio-cultural dimensions of life for young Muslim women in a small Irish town'
Brian McGrath and Orla McGarry (2014) 'The religio-cultural dimensions of life for young Muslim women in a small Irish town'. Journal Of Youth Studies, [DOI] [Details]
(2014) 'Adolescents and their networks of social support: real connections in real lives?'
McGrath, B,Brennan, MA,Dolan, P,Barnett, R (2014) 'Adolescents and their networks of social support: real connections in real lives?'. Child & Family Social Work, 19 :237-248 [DOI] [Details]
(2011) 'It's Not Like a Job Now; It's Part of Me: Exploring African Women's Experiences in the Irish Childcare Sector'
McGrath, B. & Garrity, S. (2011) 'It's Not Like a Job Now; It's Part of Me: Exploring African Women's Experiences in the Irish Childcare Sector'. Child Care in Practice, 17 (1):69-86 [Details]
(2011) 'Tradition, cultures and communities: Exploring the potentials of music and the arts for community development in Appalachia'
McGrath, B., & Brennan, M.A. (2011) 'Tradition, cultures and communities: Exploring the potentials of music and the arts for community development in Appalachia'. Community Development, 42 (3):332-350 [Details]
(2010) 'The Intersection of Youth and Community Development in Ireland and Florida: Building Stronger Communities through Youth Civic Engagement'
McGrath, B., Barnett, R., Brennan, MA. (2010) 'The Intersection of Youth and Community Development in Ireland and Florida: Building Stronger Communities through Youth Civic Engagement'. Community Development, 40 (4):331-345 [Details]
(2010) 'Social capital in community, family and work lives of Brazilian migrant parents in Ireland'
McGrath, B (2010) 'Social capital in community, family and work lives of Brazilian migrant parents in Ireland'. Community, Work & Family, 13 (4):147-165 [Details]
(2009) 'Brazilian migrants in Ireland: Emergent themes from research and practice on the significance of social networks and social capital'
McGrath, B. and F. Murray (2009) 'Brazilian migrants in Ireland: Emergent themes from research and practice on the significance of social networks and social capital'. Translocations: Migration & Social Change, 5 :1-20 [Details]
(2009) 'Adolescent well-being and supporting contexts: a comparison of adolescents in rural Ireland and Florida'
McGrath, B., Brennan, M., Dolan, P. and Barnett, R (2009) 'Adolescent well-being and supporting contexts: a comparison of adolescents in rural Ireland and Florida'. Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology, 19 :299-320 [Details]
(2009) 'School disengagement and structural options: Narrative illustrations on an analytical approach'
McGrath, B. (2009) 'School disengagement and structural options: Narrative illustrations on an analytical approach'. Nordic Journal Of Youth Research, 17 (1):81-101 [DOI] [Details]
(2009) 'Community development and youth civic engagement: research findings from Ireland and Florida'
Barnett, R., Brennan, M., McGrath, B. (2009) 'Community development and youth civic engagement: research findings from Ireland and Florida'. Journal of Community Development Society, [Details]
(2007) 'Worldviews Apart? Perceptions of Place among Rural, Farm and Urban Young People in Ireland'
McGrath, B., NicGabhainn, S. (2007) 'Worldviews Apart? Perceptions of Place among Rural, Farm and Urban Young People in Ireland'. Youth Studies Ireland, 2 (1):17-31 [Details]
(2006) 'Everything is different here…: Enhancing capabilities through inclusive education practices and relationships'
McGrath, B. (2006) 'Everything is different here…: Enhancing capabilities through inclusive education practices and relationships'. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 10 (6):595-614 [Details]
(2004) 'Broadening the Parameters of Support: Exploring Community Development Perspectives on 'Family Support' in the West of Ireland'
McGrath, B. (2004) 'Broadening the Parameters of Support: Exploring Community Development Perspectives on 'Family Support' in the West of Ireland'. Administration, 52 (1):69-91 [Details]
(2002) 'Towards the Enablement of 'Unqualified' Rural Youth: A Structurationist Perspective on Socially Inclusive Policy Intervention'
McGrath, B. (2002) 'Towards the Enablement of 'Unqualified' Rural Youth: A Structurationist Perspective on Socially Inclusive Policy Intervention'. Journal of Youth Studies, 5 (3):291-312 [Details]
(2001) 'Bridging the Gap in Traditional Social Care: The Provision of Social Care to Older People within a Rural Community Development Model'
McGrath, B. (2001) 'Bridging the Gap in Traditional Social Care: The Provision of Social Care to Older People within a Rural Community Development Model'. Administration, 49 (3):20-42 [Details]
(2001) 'A problem of resources: defining rural youth encounters in education, work & housing'
McGrath, B (2001) 'A problem of resources: defining rural youth encounters in education, work & housing'. Journal Of Rural Studies, 17 :481-495 [Details]
(1996) 'Environmentalism and Property Rights: The case of the Mullaghmore Interpretive Centre Dispute'
McGrath, B. (1996) 'Environmentalism and Property Rights: The case of the Mullaghmore Interpretive Centre Dispute'. Irish Journal of Sociology, 6 :25-47 [Details]

Book Chapters

  Year Publication
(2011) 'Brazilian Migrant Social Networks and Social Captial'
McGrath, B., & Murray, F. (2011) 'Brazilian Migrant Social Networks and Social Captial' In: B. Fanning and R. Munck (eds) Globalization, Migration and Social Transformation, Ireland in Europe and the World. Ashgate: Farnham. [Details]
(2009) 'A Growing Concern: Rural Youth and Sustainable Lives'
McGrath, B. (2009) 'A Growing Concern: Rural Youth and Sustainable Lives' In: J.McDonagh, T. Varley and S. Shorthall (eds) A Living Countryside? The Politics of Sustainable Development in Rural Ireland. Aldershot: Ashgate. [Details]
(2006) 'Enhancing Support for Young People in Need: Reflections on Informal and Formal Sources of Help'
McGrath, B. & Dolan, P. (2006) 'Enhancing Support for Young People in Need: Reflections on Informal and Formal Sources of Help' In: Dolan, P., Pinkerton, J. and Canavan, J. (eds) Family Support for Reflective Practice. Jessica Kingsley Publications. [Details]
(2004) 'Rural Youth in Local Community Development: Lessons through partnership'
McGrath, B. (2004) 'Rural Youth in Local Community Development: Lessons through partnership' In: B. Jentsch and M. Shucksmith (eds) Young People in Rural Areas of Europe. Aldershot: Ashgage. [Details]
(2002) 'Educational disadvantage and rural youth in the West of Ireland'
McGrath, B. & Canavan, J. (2002) 'Educational disadvantage and rural youth in the West of Ireland' In: T. Dax and I. Machold (eds) Voices of Rural Youth. A Break with Traditional Patterns?. [Details]
(2002) 'Encounters at the Periphery: Rural Youth and Labour Market Exclusion in North-West Connemara'
McGrath, B. (2002) 'Encounters at the Periphery: Rural Youth and Labour Market Exclusion in North-West Connemara' In: McDonagh, J. (ed) Economy, Society and Peripherality. Arlen Press. [Details]

Published Reports

  Year Publication
(2012) Understanding Youth Civic Engagement:Debates, discourses and lessons from practice.
Brady, B; Dolan, P; Kearns, N; Kennan, D; McGrath, B; Shaw, A; Brennan, M. (Expert Advisor, Pennsylvania State University) (2012) Understanding Youth Civic Engagement:Debates, discourses and lessons from practice. Unesco Child and Family Research Centre, Galway. [ARAN Link] [Details]
(2012) Understanding Youth Civic Engagement: Debates, Discourses and Lessons from Practice.
Brady, B., Dolan, P., Kearns, N., Kennan, D., McGrath, B., Shaw. A. & Brennan, M. (2012) Understanding Youth Civic Engagement: Debates, Discourses and Lessons from Practice. UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre. Prepared for Social Entrepreneurs Ireland (SEI), NUI Galway. [Details]

Other Journals

  Year Publication
(2013) 'A Virtual Canvas-Designing a Blog Site to Research Young Muslims' Friendships & Identities'
Orla McGarry, Brian McGrath (2013) 'A Virtual Canvas-Designing a Blog Site to Research Young Muslims' Friendships & Identities' Forum: Qualitative Social Research SOZIALFORSCHUNG, 14 (1) :1-21. [Details]

Conference Paper

  Year Publication
(2010) From Vocationalist Needs to New Welfare Concerns: Conceptualising the school-to-work transition among marginalized rural youth. XI World Congress or Rural Sociology, Trondheim, Norwary.
McGrath, B. (2010) From Vocationalist Needs to New Welfare Concerns: Conceptualising the school-to-work transition among marginalized rural youth. XI World Congress or Rural Sociology, Trondheim, Norwary. Conference Paper [Details]
(2010) Tradition, cultures and communities: Exploring the potentials of music and the arts for community development in Appalachia. Community Development Society, New Orleans.
McGrath, B. & Brennan, M. (2010) Tradition, cultures and communities: Exploring the potentials of music and the arts for community development in Appalachia. Community Development Society, New Orleans. Conference Paper [Details]
(2008) They had already prepared the way: Social capital formations and combinations in the lives of Brazilian migrants to Ireland. Sociological Association of Ireland conference.
McGrath, B. (2008) They had already prepared the way: Social capital formations and combinations in the lives of Brazilian migrants to Ireland. Sociological Association of Ireland conference. NUI Galway: Conference Paper [Details]
(2007) Adolescent well-being and supporting contexts: a comparison of adolescents in rural Ireland and Florida. Child and Family Research Centre Symposium, Building Resilience in Children, Families and Communities.
McGrath, B., Brennan, M., Dolan, P., Barnett, R. (2007) Adolescent well-being and supporting contexts: a comparison of adolescents in rural Ireland and Florida. Child and Family Research Centre Symposium, Building Resilience in Children, Families and Communities. NUI Galway: Conference Paper [Details]
(2004) The Power of Exclusion: Conceptualising social exclusion and inclusion in a structuraltionist framework of power. XI World Congress or Rural Sociology, Trondheim, Norwary.
McGrath, B. (2004) The Power of Exclusion: Conceptualising social exclusion and inclusion in a structuraltionist framework of power. XI World Congress or Rural Sociology, Trondheim, Norwary. Conference Paper [Details]
(2004) From Vocationalist Needs to New Welfare Concerns: XI World Congress of Rural Sociology, Trondheim, Norway July 2004.
Brian McGrath (2004) From Vocationalist Needs to New Welfare Concerns: XI World Congress of Rural Sociology, Trondheim, Norway July 2004. Conference Paper [Details]

Electronic Publication

  Year Publication
(2012) Foroige Volunteer led Youth Clubs: Youth club outcomes in Foroige Volunteer Led Youth Clubs.
Brian McGrath (2012) Foroige Volunteer led Youth Clubs: Youth club outcomes in Foroige Volunteer Led Youth Clubs. Dublin: Electronic Publication [Details]

Non Published Reports

  Year Publication
(2011) It was good to make a difference: A review of the Foroige Alan Kerins Project linking visit to Kaoma, Zambia. CFRC, NUI Galway.
McGrath, B. (2011) It was good to make a difference: A review of the Foroige Alan Kerins Project linking visit to Kaoma, Zambia. CFRC, NUI Galway. Non Published Reports [Details]
(2010) Children and Young People's Policy: Critical Issues and Recent Developments. A report for the Limerick City Children's Service Committee. CFRC, NUI Galway.
McGrath, B., Dolan, P. (2010) Children and Young People's Policy: Critical Issues and Recent Developments. A report for the Limerick City Children's Service Committee. CFRC, NUI Galway. Non Published Reports [Details]
(2003) Assessing the community development-family support relationship: an exploratory examination of projects & programmes in the West of Ireland. Galway: Child & Family Research and Policy Unit, WHB/NUI Galway.
McGrath, B. (2003) Assessing the community development-family support relationship: an exploratory examination of projects & programmes in the West of Ireland. Galway: Child & Family Research and Policy Unit, WHB/NUI Galway. Non Published Reports [ARAN Link] [Details]
(2001) An evaluation of Forum's Social Care Programme. Forum: Letterfrack.
McGrath, B., Canavan, J. (2001) An evaluation of Forum's Social Care Programme. Forum: Letterfrack. Non Published Reports [Details]

Reviews

  Year Publication
(2009) Adolescent Well-being and Supporting Contexts: A Comparison of Adolescents in Ireland and Florida.
McGrath, B,Brennan, MA,Dolan, P,Barnett, R (2009) Adolescent Well-being and Supporting Contexts: A Comparison of Adolescents in Ireland and Florida. Reviews [DOI] [Details]