Ruth McManus

Dr. Ruth McManus is an Associate Professor in Geography and Associate Dean for Teaching & Learning at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Dublin City University. She is affiliated with the School of History and Geography and has held roles such as Head of the Geography Department at St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra. Her research focuses on urban and suburban landscapes, emphasizing physical and social development in everyday spaces. She has authored key works like Dublin 1910–1940: Shaping the City and Suburbs and co-authored Building Healthy Homes: Dublin Corporation's First Housing Schemes 1880–1925. Current projects include a book on twentieth-century Dublin construction and the Drumcondra fascicle for the Irish Historic Towns Atlas.

Her research interests span urban geography, housing policy, suburbanisation, twentieth-century urban history, demography, tourism, and heritage issues. She actively engages with professional bodies such as the International Commission on the History of Towns and serves as President of the Geographical Society of Ireland. McManus advocates for PhD research in Dublin’s development, suburbanisation, and heritage-led landscape change.

McManus has contributed to pedagogical advancements in geography education, including fieldwork and reflective learning initiatives. She is a member of the Association of American Geographers, the International Planning History Society, and other disciplinary networks. Her work bridges historical analysis with contemporary urban challenges, particularly in housing and community planning.