Seán Mac Risteaird

Dr. Seán Mac Risteaird is a Professor in Fiontar & Scoil na Gaeilge at Dublin City University, specializing in Queer Theory, Gender Studies, and Irish Literary Criticism. He holds a B.A. (Honours), a Certificate in Teaching Irish to Adult Learners, and a Ph.D. from Maynooth University. Recognized as a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) since 2021, he has led programs such as the Bachelor of Education in Irish and Languages (BEdLan). His work bridges queer theory and Irish language arts, notably organizing LGBTQ+ events like the 2021 Dublin Pride Festival Irish Studies event. He is author of the award-winning monograph Teanga don Tost (2024) and editor of special editions on queer themes in Comhar. Current projects include a book on Micheál Ó Conghaile’s life and works.

Education: B.A. (Honours), Certificate in Teaching Irish to Adult Learners, and Ph.D. from Maynooth University.

Research Interests: Queer Studies, Gender Theory, Cultural Criticism, Modern Irish Literature, and Literary Theory. His work focuses on queer readings of Irish language literature, intersectional identities, and the role of language in cultural narratives.

Publications Trends: Recent work emphasizes queer Irish literature’s intersection with cultural and spatial politics, AI’s role in education, and LGBTQ+ representation in Irish language media. His articles span peer-reviewed journals like Léann Teanga and Review of Irish Studies in Europe (RISE), alongside creative contributions to Comhar and public pieces for RTÉ Brainstorm.

• Awards:
  • ACIS Irish Language Research Book of the Year (2025)
  • Royal Irish Academy Fellowship (2023)
  • FHEA (2021)
  • Maynooth University ICUF Fellowship (2012)

Supervision & Grants: Supervises PhD candidates Meabh Sloane and Dara De Poire. Active in grants for interdisciplinary research, notably on AI in language pedagogy and queer cultural heritage preservation.

Labs/Teams: Leads DCU’s queer Irish language literary initiatives and collaborates with the American Conference for Irish Studies. Engages in community projects like Navan Pride, promoting LGBTQ+ visibility in Irish language spaces.