Background

I am a cultural geographer of modern and contemporary France whose research examines the aesthetics and politics of urban transformation. I have a particular focus on cultures of infrastructure and ecology in Grand Paris, examining how these assemblages are shaping the politics and imaginaries of more just urban futures. This work is extended through practice and engagement with community gardens in the suburbs of the North East of England.

Originally from Ireland, and the first in my family to attend university, I studied at Trinity College, Dublin (BA French & History), the Sorbonne and New York University before completing my PhD on urban travel writing at Trinity. These experiences of moving between languages, places and disciplines continue to inform my approach to teaching and research.

Before joining Newcastle in 2018, I taught at Bangor University. I was promoted to Reader in 2023 and served as Director of Impact and Engagement for the School of Modern Languages (2019–2025), as well as Theme Lead for “Defining and Experiencing Cities” at the Centre for Researching Cities (2020-2025). I am currently a co-Director of the Centre for Researching Cities. In these roles, I seek to foster interdisciplinary and community-based conversations around urban belonging, spatial justice and ecological care.

My current projects reflect this commitment. I am preparing a monograph which examines the visual ecologies of Grand Paris. Additionally, along with the volunteer co-authors at The Comfrey Project in Gateshead and together with artists, designers and community coordinators, I produced The Comfrey Almanac—an illustrated book which explores their urban community garden as a site for reestablishing rootedness through practices of social and ecological care.

Affiliations

Education

  • PhD in French Studies, Trinity College, Dublin. Supervised by Prof David Scott and fully funded by the TCD Ussher Fellowship.
  • Diplôme d’études approfondies (DEA), Université Sorbonne Nouvelle—Paris III. Supervised by Philippe Hamon. Pensionnaire at the École Normale Supérieure, rue d’Ulm, Paris.
  • B.A. Two Subject Moderatership in French & History, Trinity College, Dublin. Funded by the Drogheda Credit Union Scholarship.
  • 2017 F.H.E.A., Bangor University, Wales (Fellow of the Higher Education Academy / Advance HE).
  • 2010 F.L.E. (Stage de perfectionnement en Français Langue Étrangère / Teaching French as a Foreign Language), Université de Laval, Québec. 
  • 2005 T.E.F.L. (Teaching English as a Foreign Language), The Language Centre of Ireland, Dublin.