Maria Feeney

Dr. Maria Feeney is a Postdoctoral Researcher at Dublin City University's School of Law and Government within the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences. Her research focuses on gender, rural sociology, and vulnerable groups, particularly examining rural male suicidal behavior and Irish social policy. She holds degrees from St. Patrick's College Maynooth (B.A.Th), National University of Ireland Maynooth (H.Dip.Ed., M.A.), and University College Dublin (Ph.D.).

Her doctoral work, supported by a Teagasc Walsh Fellowship, analyzed narratives of men in rural Ireland exhibiting suicidal behavior, revealing societal and rural life impacts. She has published co-authored books including Church, State and Social Science in Ireland (2017) and Come &C Growing in the Image and Likeness of God (2019). Her research methodologies emphasize qualitative analysis and community engagement.

Feeney has contributed to funded research projects and taught at DCU Institute of Education, Maynooth University, and other teacher education institutions. She actively supports initiatives like Embrace FARM, addressing farm accident trauma in Ireland.

• Awards: Teagasc Walsh Fellowship
• Teaching Roles: Undergraduate/teacher education programs
• Key Research Areas: Rural mental health, gender studies, sociological history