Malgorzata Krasnodebska D'Aughton

Malgorzata Krasnodebska D'Aughton is a Lecturer in the School of History at University College Cork (UCC), within the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences. Her research specializes in the cultural and religious history of medieval religious orders, particularly the Franciscans, with a focus on material culture, iconography, sacred spaces, and medieval piety. She holds a PhD and MA from UCC, with her doctoral work centered on an Irish-influenced manuscript in Cracow, Poland.

Education:

• PhD, University College Cork
• MA, University College Cork
• Diploma in Palaeography, Melbourne University (online)
• BA, Catholic University, Lublin (KUL), Poland

Her research interests include the history of mendicant orders, art and devotion in the Middle Ages, death and commemoration, gender and sanctity, and the application of history beyond academia. She is currently completing a monograph titled Image and Identity: Franciscan Ideologies in Medieval Ireland and has co-edited major volumes such as Monastic Europe: Medieval Communities, Landscapes and Settlement (2019) and Mendicants on the Margins (2024). Her recent publications span topics from chalice analysis using XRF to Franciscan choirs and pilgrimage narratives.

Her scholarly work reveals a consistent focus on the interplay between ideology, material culture, and sacred space in medieval Ireland and Europe, with a particular emphasis on Franciscan spirituality and identity formation. She integrates art historical, textual, and archaeological evidence to explore how religious communities expressed their beliefs through objects, architecture, and ritual.

Scientific Awards and Recognition:

• UCC President's Award for Excellence in Teaching (2016/17)
• Government of Ireland Postgraduate Fellowship (2017)
• Post-Doctoral IRCHSS Fellowship (2006)
• CACSSS Research and Publication Funds (multiple years)
• Royal Irish Academy Travel Awards
• Supervised students winning Jennifer O'Reilly Memorial Prize, J.J. Lee Prize, and Undergraduate Awards recognition
• RTÉ Lyric FM programme Jerusalem Passion (New York Festivals finalist)

She has successfully supervised numerous MA students on topics ranging from Marian devotion to medieval churches and Franciscan identity. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes primary source analysis, digital humanities, public history, and student employability. She has developed innovative modules like HI6091: Skills for Medieval Historians, which includes work placements and digital exhibitions. She is actively involved in public engagement through exhibitions at the National Museum of Ireland, theatrical performances like Friars Walk, radio documentaries, school talks, and community workshops. She has served on various UCC committees related to research, teaching, graduate studies, and digital humanities.