Lord Mayor’s Certificate course in Local Studies
Published on 25th August 2025
Dublin City Libraries is pleased to announce the 2025/2026 Lord Mayor’s Certificate course in Local Studies – applications now open
The Lord Mayor’s Certificate course in Local Studies is offered by Dublin City Council (DCC) as part of its commitment to life-long learning. The course examines the local dimension of Ireland’s past and is taught in an engaging and accessible manner by DCC Historian in Residence Cathy Scuffil.
This part-time course is free of charge and will commence on 14 October 2025 until 28 April 2026 with in-person classes held in Dublin City Library and Archive, 139-144 Pearse Street, Dublin 2 on Tuesday evenings.
You can apply online for the course from Monday 25 August 2025. The closing date for receipt of applications is 5.00 p.m. on Friday 12 September 2025.
If you want to apply for the course please complete the online application form or scan the QR code. Applicants will be randomly selected for a place on the course from the completed online application forms.
Find out more details about the course, including the class schedule:
Image: 'Keep Dublin Tidy' Parade, Cavendish Row, vital 40202
Course Aims
The course gives participants a formal and practical training in how to carry out research in local studies, with an emphasis on the history and heritage of local places, and how to write their findings in a dissertation.
Course Duration
The course consists of 100 hours part-time from October 2025 to April 2026. This comprises 65 hours class-based tuition as well as a presentation on the holdings of Dublin City Library and Archive, off-site visits and field trips.
Course Venue
The Certificate in Local Studies will be taught under the auspices of Dublin City Library & Archive (DCLA), 139-144 Pearse Street, Dublin 2. DCLA consists of the Dublin and Irish Local Studies collections, along with the Dublin City Archives, which together contain historic collections of civic and national importance.
Course Content
Section 1: Overview and background
• An introduction to academic and community-based local studies in Ireland
• Comparative traditions in other countries
• Contemporary developments and challenges in the field of local studies
Section 2: Sources for Local Studies
• 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 Studies
• Writing conventions
• Oral and visual presentations
• Fieldwork
Course Assessment Procedures
Participants will be required to attend a minimum of 80% of classes. In addition, each participant will be required to:
- Prepare a dissertation containing between 3,500 and 5,000 words and submit this to the course tutor by the 1st of June 2026 (80% of marks)
- Complete an in-class document test set by the course tutor (20% of marks)
Course Conventions
Conventions in place for the course will include Dublin City Council’s Customer Charter and Code of Conduct for members of the public. Copies of both documents are available on request, e-mail [email protected]
Course Tutor
The Course Tutor for the Certificate in Local Studies at Dublin City Library and Archive is Cathy Scuffil. Cathy holds an MA in Local History and was awarded the silver medal in 2018 by the Old Dublin Society for the abridged version of her thesis, The South Circular Road on the Eve of World War I. Cathy is Dublin City Council Historian in Residence for the Dublin South Central area working with community groups, history societies, schools and colleges.
Who should apply?
The course will appeal primarily to people who have an active interest in local studies and who would like to research a particular topic for a dissertation. Topics do not have to be based on Dublin – other places in Ireland are feasible and welcome. Topics based on locations outside Ireland may also be considered.
Admission Requirements
Participants are required to have an interest in local studies and can commit to attend a minimum of 80% of classes and complete the course work.
There is an upper limit of 16 participants on the course. Applicants will be randomly selected for a place on the course from the completed online application forms received.
How to Apply
Prospective students must submit a completed online application form HERE
You can only submit your online application between 12.00 p.m. on Monday 25 August 2025 and 5.00 p.m. on Friday 12 September 2025. If you require any assistance with the online application form, please email [email protected]
Presentation of Certificates
An event for the presentation of Lord Mayor’s Certificates in Local Studies 2025-2026 will be held in Winter 2026.
Lord Mayor’s Prize
Students who complete the course will be eligible for the Lord Mayor’s Prize which is awarded for the best dissertation submitted by that class. The Lord Mayor’s Prize will be presented during the presentation of certificates in Winter 2026.