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Certificate in Local History 2011-2012 - Closing Date Extended

Update: 5th September 2011
The Certificate in Local History, run by the National University of Ireland Maynooth, will be offered at Dublin City Library & Archive beginning this autumn. There are four places left, which will be offered on a first-come-first-served basis on payment of course fees. The new closing date for applications is Tuesday 13th September 2011.

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The course runs from mid September 2011 to end April 2012. The tutor is Dr. Seamas O Maitiu, who has taught the course at DCLA since 2007.   Classes will be held on Tuesday evenings, from 17.30-20.00.

Certificate in Local History 2011 - 2012Bursaries for Certificate in Local History 2011 - 2012

Two Bursaries will be offered for students taking the Certificate in Local History 2011-2012; further details on Bursaries...  Closing date for applications is Friday 19 August 2011. 

Course Aims

The course gives participants a formal and practical training in how to carry out research in local history and how to write up their findings in the form of a dissertation. The course carries 20 credits towards the NUI Maynooth B.A. in Local History.

Course Duration

The course consists of 100 hours part-time from mid-September 2011 to mid-April 2012.

Course Content

Section 1: An overview of Local History

  • An introduction to academic and community-based local history in Ireland
  • Comparative traditions in other countries
  • Contemporary developments and challenges in the field of local history

Section 2: Sources for Local History

  • Introduction to primary and secondary sources
  • Guidelines for critical appraisal of sources
  • Guidance on location and consultation of selected major sources

Section 3: Presenting Local History

  • Writing conventions
  • Oral and visual presentations
  • Fieldwork

The course will also include two field trips and visits to three archive services. Each participant will be required to research and prepare a dissertation on a local history topic to be agreed with the Course Tutor.

Admission Requirements

  • Applications for the Certificate in Local History are subject to approval by the Department of Modern History, NUI Maynooth
  • Participants are required to have an interest in local history together with an indication of capacity to take the course
  • Participants must be 21 years or over 

Course Assessment Procedures

Participants will be required to:

  • Attend a minimum of 80% of classes
  • Prepare a dissertation containing between 5,000 and 10,000 words and submit this to the Course Tutor at the end of the course
  • Complete an in-class test set by the Course Tutor

Course Venue

The Certificate in Local History will be taught at Dublin City Library & Archive on Pearse Street. Dublin City Library & Archive consists of the Dublin & Irish Local Studies Library, along with the Dublin City Archives, which together contain historic collections of civic and national importance, providing unique and unrivalled public access to all aspects of Dublin’s multi-faceted history. 

Course Tutor

The Course Tutor for the Certificate in Local History at Dublin City Library & Archive will be Dr. Seamas O Maitiu.    Seamas O Maitiu holds an MA in Local History and was awarded a Ph.D. by the National University of Ireland for his thesis on the development of the Dublin suburbs in the 19th century.   For many years a secondary school teacher, he has lectured in UCD, NUI Maynooth and in other third-level colleges.

Fees

  • The fee is €950 payable by cheque or bank draft made out to Dublin City Council. Receipts will be issued for all cheques/bank drafts received.  Fees are as set by the National University of Ireland, Maynooth
  • NOTE: In order for the course to proceed, a minimum of 16 participants will be required.  If the course does not proceed, cheques/bank drafts will be refunded.
  • An upper limit of 22 participants will apply.  Applicants will be given places on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to receipt of completed application form and cheque or bank draft for fees made out to Dublin City Council.
  • Please note: At present, tax relief is not allowed by the Revenue Commissioners in respect of fees paid for a one-year course of 100 hours. This includes the Certificate in Local History.

Bursaries

Dublin City Council will offer two Bursaries in part-payment of fees for students taking the Certificate in Local History at Dublin City Library & Archive for the academic year 2011-2012.   Persons employed by Dublin City Council or employed by the public service are not eligible for these Bursaries. Closing date for applications for Bursaries is 5pm on Friday 19 August 2011. Further details on Bursaries or e-mail cityarchives@dublincity.ie.

Presentation of Certificates

A ceremony for presentation of Certificates in Local History 2011-2012 will be held at Dublin City Library & Archive in December 2012.

Lord Mayor’s Prize

Students taking the Certificate in Local History at Dublin City Library & Archive 2011-2012 will be eligible for the Lord Mayor’s Prize, which is awarded for the best dissertation submitted by that class.  The recipient is decided by the Department of Modern History, NUI Maynooth.  The Lord Mayor’s Prize will be presented during the ceremonial presentation of Certificates in December 2012.

Course Timetable

The course will be held on Tuesday evenings from mid-September 2011 until end-April 2012 as follows:

  • 13 September 2011 - 5.30-8.00 p.m.
  • 20 September 2011 - 5.30-8.00 p.m.
  • 27 September 2011 - 5.30-8.00 p.m.
  • 4 October 2011 - 5.30-8.00 p.m.
  • 11 October 2011 - 5.30-8.00 p.m.
  • 18 October 2011 - 5.30-8.00 p.m.
  • 25 October 2011 - 5.30-8.00 p.m.
  • 1 November 2011 - 5.30-8.00 p.m.
  • 8 November 2011 - 5.30-8.00 p.m.
  • 15 November 2011 - 5.30-8.00 p.m.
  • 22 November 2011 - 5.30-8.00 p.m.
  • 29 November 2011 - 5.30-8.00 p.m.
  • 6 December 2011 - 5.30-8.00 p.m.
  • 13 December 2011 - 5.30-8.00 p.m.
  • 10 January 2012 - 5.30-8.00 p.m.
  • 17 January 2012 - 5.30-8.00 p.m.
  • 24 January 2012 - 5.30-8.00 p.m.
  • 31 January 2012 - 5.30-8.00 p.m.
  • 7 February 2012 - 5.30-8.00 p.m.
  • 14 February 2012 - 5.30-8.00 p.m.
  • 21 February 2012 - 5.30-8.00 p.m.
  • 28 February 2012 - 5.30-8.00 p.m.
  • 6 March 2012 - 5.30-8.00 p.m.
  • 13 March 2012 - 5.30-8.00 p.m.
  • 20 March 2012 - 5.30-8.00 p.m.
  • 27 March 2012 - 5.30-8.00 p.m.
  • 3 April 2012 - 5.30-8.00 p.m.
  • 17 April 2012 - 5.30-8.00 p.m.

Three of the above Tuesday evening sessions will consist of visits to archives to explore source materials at first-hand and there will be one visit to NUI Maynooth. There will also be four seminars in Dublin City Library & Archive on Saturday mornings in Spring 2012 on 11 February; 25 February; 10 March; 24 March. In addition, there will be two full-day field trips, dates to be scheduled by consultation between the Class Tutor and the course participants.

Download application form below and return to: The City Archivist, Dublin City Library & Archive, 138-144 Pearse Street, Dublin 2 to arrive not later than 8.00p.m. on Wednesday 31 August 2011 (NOTE: See update above re. extension), enclosing a cheque or bank draft in the sum of €950 made payable to DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL.  A receipt will be issued. If the course does not proceed, your cheque/bank draft will be returned to you.

 To obtain hard-copy of brochure, e-mail cityarchives@dublincity.