Kelly Fitzgerald

Dr. Kelly Fitzgerald is a Lecturer/Assistant Professor and Head of the School of Irish, Celtic Studies and Folklore at University College Dublin (UCD). She also served as Vice-Principal (International) at UCD from September 2020 to August 2023. Fitzgerald holds a BA and PhD from UCD, focusing on folklore and early Irish studies. Her research emphasizes the intellectual history of Irish folkloristics, archives, and oral history, with notable contributions to journals like Béaloideas. She chairs ANU Productions and directs oral history initiatives, including projects for Dublin’s Tenement Museum and social housing communities.

Her teaching spans modules such as Folklore and Folkloristics, Healers and Healing, and Oral Text Interpretation. Fitzgerald has held leadership roles, including Head of Irish Folklore & Ethnology (2019) and Head of School (2021). She contributes to professional activities like committee memberships (e.g., The Royal Society of Antiquaries) and public engagements, including talks on Irish cultural traditions and folklore.

Her research outputs include analyses of aging discourse, cultural heritage preservation, and interdisciplinary studies. Fitzgerald’s work bridges academic and public spheres, advocating for inclusive cultural narratives and policy-informed research on aging.