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People

Dr Deirdre Byrnes

BA, MPhil, PhD

Contact Details

Lecturer Above The Bar
German
Room 303, Arts Millennium Building
German
School of Languages, Literatures and Cultures

T: Ext. 2014
E: deirdre.byrnes@nuigalway.ie
 
researcher

Biography

Deirdre Byrnes is a graduate of University College Cork, where she obtained a BA in German and French (First Class Honours), a Higher Diploma in Education, and an MPhil (First Class Honours). She was awarded her PhD from University College Dublin in 2004. Deirdre was the recipient of a DAAD undergraduate scholarship which enabled her to study at the University of Heidelberg during the academic year 1992-1993. In 1995 she was awarded the Boyle Postgraduate Scholarship in German from University College Cork. She conducted much of the research for her MPhil at the University of Konstanz. As a doctoral student, she was the recipient of a DAAD postgraduate research scholarship and spent the academic year 1998-1999 at the University of Potsdam and the Freie Universität Berlin. She was also awarded a postgraduate research scholarship from the Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences for the academic year 2000-2001. Deirdre is course director of Legal German at NUI Galway and is responsible for the coordination, curriculum design and delivery of the Legal German module on the Corporate Law and on the Civil Law programme. She teaches the seminar "Memory in Contemporary German Writing" to Final Year BA students and the seminar "Law in Literature" to Second Year students. She also delivers the compulsory module "Resisting through Culture: Conflicts in Europe and Beyond" to students of the MA in International Contemporary Literatures and Media. Deirdre's research interests include the writing of Monika Maron, GDR literature, contemporary women writers in German-language literature, and the use of photography in literary texts. She is very interested in memory discourses - generational memory transmission, post-memory, contested memories. Her recent work is concerned with forms of memorialisation in post-GDR society, more specifically the politics and practice of memory at the Berlin-Hohenschönhausen memorial site. She is a member of the NUIG-UL research network Gender ARC: http://www.genderarc.org/ 

Research Interests

Deirdre's research interests include the writing of Monika Maron, GDR literature, contemporary women writers in German-language literature, and the use of photography in literary texts. She is very interested in memory discourses - generational memory transmission, post-memory, contested memories. Her recent work is concerned with forms of memorialisation in post-GDR society, more specifically the politics and practice of memory at the Berlin-Hohenschönhausen memorial site.
She is a member of the NUIG-UL Gender ARC: http://www.genderarc.org/ 

Research Projects

  Project Start Date End Date
MF2004 MF08 04 DR. DEIRDRE BYRNES 01-JUN-05 28-FEB-06

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2017) 'Recovering Marginalised Voices: The Politics and Practice of Memory at the Berlin-Hohenschönhausen Memorial'
Byrnes, Deirdre (2017) 'Recovering Marginalised Voices: The Politics and Practice of Memory at the Berlin-Hohenschönhausen Memorial'. Journal of Contemporary European Studies, Special issue, City Margins, City Memories: Berlin, Milan, Paris [Details]

Books

  Year Publication
(2011) Rereading Monika Maron: Text, Counter-Text and Context.
Byrnes, D. (2011) Rereading Monika Maron: Text, Counter-Text and Context. Oxford, Bern: Peter Lang - International Academic Publishers. [DOI] [Details]

Book Chapters

  Year Publication
(2013) 'Writing on the Threshold: Memory, Language and Identity in Kathrin Schmidt's Du stirbst nicht'
Byrnes, Deirdre (2013) 'Writing on the Threshold: Memory, Language and Identity in Kathrin Schmidt's Du stirbst nicht' In: Emerging Women Writers in German-language Literature. Amsterdam and New York: Rodopi. [Details]
(2013) 'The Triumph of the Transferable: Fostering Transferable Skills in the Foreign Language Classroom'
Byrnes, Deirdre (2013) 'The Triumph of the Transferable: Fostering Transferable Skills in the Foreign Language Classroom' In: Traditions and Transitions: Curricula for German Studies. Waterloo: Wilfrid Laurier University Press. [Details]
(2008) 'Monika Marons Beiträge zur Wochenpost: Eine Analyse'
Byrnes, Deirdre (2008) 'Monika Marons Beiträge zur Wochenpost: Eine Analyse' In: Denkbilder: Festschrift für Eoin Bourke. Würzburg: Königshausen & Neumann. [Details]

Conference Publications

  Year Publication
(2008) Berlin's Culturescape in the Twentieth Century
Byrnes, Deirdre (2008) Berlin in the Writing of Monika Maron . In: Thomas Bredohl and Michael Zimmermann (editors) eds. Berlin's Culturescape in the Twentieth Century , pp.229-243 [Details]
(2003) Sentimente, Empfindungen, Gefühle: Zur Geschichte und Literatur des Affektiven von 1770 bis heute
Byrnes, Deirdre (2003) Der Körper als Symptom, die Gefühle als Metaphern: Monika Marons Roman Stille Zeile Sechs . In: Anne Fuchs and Sabine Strümper-Krobb eds. Sentimente, Empfindungen, Gefühle: Zur Geschichte und Literatur des Affektiven von 1770 bis heute , pp.221-226 [Details]
(2003) Cultural Memory: Essays on European Literature and Culture
Byrnes, Deirdre (2003) Exposing the Gaps in Memory: Forgetting and Remembering in Monika Maron's Pawels Briefe Cultural Memory: Essays on European Literature and Culture , pp.147-159 [Details]

Conference Contributions

  Year Publication
(2016) Conflict, Humanitarianism and Security Symposium,
Byrnes, D. (2016) Remembering Political Persecution: Eyewitness Testimony at the Berlin-Hohenschönhausen Memorial. [Conference Paper], Conflict, Humanitarianism and Security Symposium, NUI Galway , 04-MAY-16 - 04-MAY-16. [Details]
(2014) 25 Jahre Mauerfall: Reflections on GDR literature, its legacy and the connections between the GDR and Ireland,
Byrnes, D. (2014) DAAD Alumni Conference. [Conference Organising Committee Member], 25 Jahre Mauerfall: Reflections on GDR literature, its legacy and the connections between the GDR and Ireland, University of Limerick , 07-NOV-14 - 08-NOV-14. [Details]
(2014) Memory in post-1945 Art and Literature,
Byrnes, D. (2014) Exposing the Gaps in Memory: Generational Forgetting, Photography and Postmemory in Monika Maron’s Pawels Briefe. [Invited Paper], Memory in post-1945 Art and Literature, University of Aberystwyth , 03-JUL-14 - 04-JUL-14. [Details]
(2014) City Margins, City Memories,
Byrnes, D. (2014) Remembering at the Margins: The Berlin-Hohenschönhausen Memorial. [Conference Paper], City Margins, City Memories, Institute of Modern Languages Research, London , 07-APR-14 - 08-APR-14. [Details]
(2014) 25 Jahre Mauerfall: Reflections on GDR literature, its legacy and connections between the GDR and Ireland,
Byrnes, D. (2014) „Erinnerungen haben ihre Zeit“: Memory and postmemory in autobiographical writing after 1989. [Conference Paper], 25 Jahre Mauerfall: Reflections on GDR literature, its legacy and connections between the GDR and Ireland, University of Limerick , 08-NOV-14 - 09-NOV-14. [Details]
(2013) Thinking Differently: New Curricula, New Skills in Higher Education,
Byrnes, D (2013) The Triumph of the Transferable: Fostering Transferable Skills in the Foreign Language Classroom. [Conference Paper], Thinking Differently: New Curricula, New Skills in Higher Education, NUI Galway , 07-JUN-13 - 07-JUN-13. [Details]
(2012) Family Ties: Recollection and Representation,
Byrnes, D. (2012) Presenting the Past: Photography, Memory Gaps and Postmemory in Monika Maron's Family Story Pawels Briefe. [Conference Paper], Family Ties: Recollection and Representation, Institute of Germanic and Romance Languages, University of London , 08-MAR-12 - 09-MAR-12. [Details]
(2012) About Time: Conceptualising and Recovering Temporality in German, Swiss and Austrian Culture,
Byrnes, D. (2012) Was ist früher? Recovering Lost Time in Kathrin Schmidt's novel Du stirbst nicht. [Conference Paper], About Time: Conceptualising and Recovering Temporality in German, Swiss and Austrian Culture, University College Dublin , 28-JUN-12 - 30-JUN-12. [Details]
(2011) Gender, Nation, Text: NUI Galway - UL Gender ARC Symposium, organised by the Gender, Discourses, Identities Thematic Group,
Byrnes, D. (2011) Confronting Vater Staat: Constructing and Deconstructing the Nation-State in Monika Maron's Novel Stille Zeile Sechs. [Conference Paper], Gender, Nation, Text: NUI Galway - UL Gender ARC Symposium, organised by the Gender, Discourses, Identities Thematic Group, NUI Galway , 10-MAY-11 - 10-MAY-01. [Details]
(2011) GDR Literature: International Colloquium of the Centre for Irish-German Studies with a special focus on teaching GDR Literature,
Byrnes, D. (2011) Rereading Monika Maron. [Oral Presentation], GDR Literature: International Colloquium of the Centre for Irish-German Studies with a special focus on teaching GDR Literature, University of Limerick , 29-MAR-11 - 29-MAR-11. [Details]
(2010) German Curricula: Transitions and Traditions,
Byrnes, D. (2010) The Triumph of the Transferable: Teaching Applied German in the Twenty-First Century,. [Invited Paper], German Curricula: Transitions and Traditions, University of Waterloo, Ontario , 26-AUG-10 - 28-AUG-10. [Details]
(2009) Doing Family: Precarious Parenthood and the Performativity of Family,
Byrnes, D. (2009) Confronting Vater Staat: Politics and Paternity in Monika Maron’s Stille Zeile Sechs,. [Conference Paper], Doing Family: Precarious Parenthood and the Performativity of Family, NUI Galway , 05-JUN-09 - 06-JUN-09. [Details]
(2006) Berlin's Culturescape in the Twentieth Century,
Byrnes, D. (2006) Berlin in the Writing of Monika Maron. [Conference Paper], Berlin's Culturescape in the Twentieth Century, University of Regina, Saskatchewna , 22-SEP-06 - 24-SEP-06. [Details]
(2005) Contemporary European Women Writers: Gender and Generation,
Byrnes, D. (2005) Mending a Fractured Family Biography: Mother-Daughter Relationships in Monika Maron’s Pawels Briefe,. [Conference Paper], Contemporary European Women Writers: Gender and Generation, University of Bath , 30-MAR-05 - 01-APR-05. [Details]
(2005) Borders and Margins: (Re)defining Space and Place in European Literary and Cultural Discourses,
Byrnes, D. (2005) Mit dem Kopf durch die Wand gehen: Physical and Imaginary Spaces in Monika Maron’s novel Die Überläuferin. [Conference Paper], Borders and Margins: (Re)defining Space and Place in European Literary and Cultural Discourses, NUI Galway , 15-JAN-05 - 15-JAN-05. [Details]
(2004) Women in German Studies Annual Conference,
Byrnes, D. (2004) Versteckte Botschaften: Biographers and Biographies in Monika Maron’s novel Endmoränen. [Conference Paper], Women in German Studies Annual Conference, Selwyn College, Cambridge , 11-AUG-04 - 11-SEP-04. [Details]
(2003) Hystorical Fictions: Women, History and Authorship,
Byrnes, D. (2003) Rewriting History: Monika Maron’s Stille Zeile Sechs. [Conference Paper], Hystorical Fictions: Women, History and Authorship, University of Wales, Swansea , 05-AUG-03 - 07-AUG-03. [Details]
(2001) Sentimente, Gefühle, Empfindungen: Zur Geschichte und Literatur des Affektiven von 1770 bis heute,
Byrnes, D. (2001) Der Körper als Symptom, die Gefühle als Metaphern: Monika Marons Roman Stille Zeile Sechs. [Conference Paper], Sentimente, Gefühle, Empfindungen: Zur Geschichte und Literatur des Affektiven von 1770 bis heute, Goethe Institute, Dublin , 01-JUL-01 - 03-JUL-01. [Details]
(2000) Cultural Memory,
Byrnes, D. (2000) Remembering and Forgetting in Monika Maron's Pawels Briefe. [Conference Paper], Cultural Memory, Newman House, Dublin , 10-NOV-00 - 11-NOV-00. [Details]

Book Review

  Year Publication
(2012) Fathers and Sons, Review of Eugen Ruge's novel In Zeiten des abnehmenden Lichts for Dublin Review of Books.
Byrnes, Deirdre (2012) Fathers and Sons, Review of Eugen Ruge's novel In Zeiten des abnehmenden Lichts for Dublin Review of Books. Book Review [Details]

Honours and Awards

  Year Title Awarding Body
2014 Research Incentivisation Scheme College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Celtic Studies
2010 Conference Travel Assistance, Millennium Fund, NUI Galway Millennium Fund, NUI Galway
2010 Goethe-Institut Training Scholarship Goethe-Institut
2007 Grant from Grant-in-Aid of Publications Fund, NUI Galway Grant-in-Aid of Publications Fund, NUI Galway
2004 Millennium Research Fund, NUI Galway Millennium Research Fund, NUI Galway
2005 Goethe-Institut Training Scholarship Goethe-Institut
2000 Postgraduate Research Scholarship Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences
1998 DAAD Postgraduate Research Scholarship Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (German Academic Exchange Service)
1998 Open Postgraduate Scholarship University College Dublin
1995 Boyle Postgraduate Scholarship in German University College Cork
1992 DAAD Scholarship Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (German Academic Exchange Service)
1992 Undergraduate College Scholarship University College Cork
1991 Edward and Matilda Ryan Scholarship University College Cork
1991 Undergraduate College Scholarship University College Cork

Professional Associations

  Association Function From / To
German Studies Assocation of Ireland Ordinary Member /
GSA (German Studies Association) Ordinary Member /
Business German in Ireland Working Group Ordinary Member /

Committees

  Committee Function From / To
German Studies Association of Ireland Secretary 01-NOV-11 / 14-NOV-15
Research Committee, School of Languages, Literatures and Cultures Ordinary Member 01-SEP-10 / 31-DEC-12

Employment

  Employer Position From / To
National University of Ireland, Galway Lecturer (above the bar) 01-SEP-01 /

Education

  Year Institution Qualification Subject
2004 University College Dublin PhD German Literature
1997 University College Cork Masters MLitt in German Literature
1995 University College Cork HDipEd Education
1994 University College Cork Bachelor of Arts German and French
2016 NUI Galway Diploma Italian
2006 NUI Galway Diploma Dioploma sa Ghaeilge

Languages

  Language
Irish
Italian
German
French

Community Engagement

  Title Type From / To
Outreach NUI Galway Information Evening, Thurles 28-NOV-13 / 28-NOV-13
Outreach Taster Day, NUI Galway 21-NOV-09 / 21-NOV-09
Outreach NUI Galway Information Evening, Thurles 14-APR-11 / 14-APR-11
Outreach Higher Options Fair, RDS 21-SEP-12 / 21-SEP-12
Outreach Presentation to second-level teachers of German at a Teacher Training Day, NUI Galway 20-MAR-10 / 20-MAR-10
Outreach Taster day, NUI Galway 27-NOV-10 / 27-NOV-10
Outreach Brush up your German, NUI Galway 21-MAR-06 / 28-MAR-06

Outreach Activities

  Description

NUI Galway Information Evenings in Thurles, April 2011 and November 2013

Other Activities

  Description

I was Vice-Dean for the First Arts Experience in the College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Celtic Studies from 2007 to 2010. This role involved providing support and advice for First Arts students, liaising with First Year coordinators and with Student Services to assist students in difficulty, and informing new and prospective entrants about First Arts at NUI Galway. Responsibilities also included meeting with students who wished to defer examinations as well as preparing for and attending First Arts examination boards. I gave presentations on the First Arts Experience at Orientation Day each September and presented to mature students, Access students and student mentors. I also provided verbal reports at meetings of the College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Celtic Studies. During my term as Vice-Dean, I was a member of the College Executive of the College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Celtic Studies.

Teaching Interests

Deirdre is course director of Legal German at NUI Galway and is responsible for the coordination, curriculum design and delivery of the Legal German module on the Bachelor of Corporate Law and on the Bachelor of Civil Law programme. She teaches the seminar "Memory in Contemporary German Writing" to Final Year BA students and the seminar "Law in Literature" to Second Year students. She also delivers the compulsory module "Resisting through Culture: Conflicts in Europe and Beyond" to students of the MA in  International Contemporary Literatures and Media. 

Recent Postgraduate Students

  Graduation Name Degree Primary Supervisor
2015 Stephen Gilmore MA Advanced Languages Skills
2013 Susan Carolan MA International Contemporary Literatures & Media Y
2013 Caoimhe Fitzpatrick MA International Contemporary Literatures & Media Y
2012 Alan Coss MA German Y
2011 Jeannine Jud MA German Y
2011 Sheila Kelly MA International Contemporary Literatures & Media Y

Current Postgraduate Students (Research)

  Student Degree Type Type
Jeannine Jud Doctorate - Structured Ph.D. in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Supervisor

Modules Taught

  Term/Year Module Title Module Code Subject / Desc
Semester 1 and Semester 2 First Year Legal German GR106 The first year Legal German course is designed to consolidate and develop existing language skills. Topics include young people in Germany and multiculturalism. Students are introduced to aspects of the German legal system, including legal education, the organs of state, the Constitution and Contract Law.
Semester 1 and Semester 2 Second Year Legal German GR208 The acqusition of a specialised commercial vocabulary is an important aspect of GR208. Topics include trade fairs, the stucture of companies, company profiles and product descriptions. Students are introduced to the German Civil Code; they also learn about the development of the EU and the EU institutions. Preparing students for the Erasmus year is of particular importance in the second semester.
Semester 1 and Semester 2 Third Year Legal German GR317 In the final year particular emphasis is placed on the ability to express ideas convincingly. Regular assignments and a presentation facilitate the development and articulation of opinions on contemporary legal, social and political issues. Topics include the German Constitution, the federal state, intellectual property, immigration and citizenship laws. German unification, in particular the transformation of Berlin since the fall of the Wall in 1989, is an important theme.
Semester 1 Memory in Contemporary German Writing GR338 Monika Maron is an accomplished essayist, a critically acclaimed novelist, and an incisive social and political commentator. This course focuses on two of her texts: Stille Zeile Sechs, published in 1991, and her family story Pawels Briefe, published in 1999. Situating these texts within the framework of individual, collective and cultural memory theories, this seminar foregrounds the emergence of memory - and of forgetting - as central themes in contemporary German literature.
Semester 1 Law in Literature GR239 This seminar develops close reading skills. Guilt and responsibility emerge as central themes as well as the question of how the Law is portrayed. Prose and poetry by authors such as Paul Celan, Gabriele Wohmann and Franz Kafka form the focus of analysis.
Semester 2 Resisting through Culture: Conflicts in Europe and Beyond MIC6100 This module focuses on the literature that emerged in the latter half of the twentieth century following the post-war division of Europe. Works by Peter Schneider, Ivan Klima, Vaclav Havel and Herta Mueller form the focus of analysis. Situating these texts within their socio-political contexts of division and conflict, the module explores how literature and culture can be harnessed to facilitate and express resistance within and against totalitarian systems.