Trinity College Dublin Sociology Alumni
As the expanded page on the history of the study of Sociology in Trinity College shows, Sociology was first taught in 1968 and became an autonomous Department in 1978.
We estimate that there have been around 1,500 graduates from undergraduate programmes in Sociology, and these women and men have gone on to a wide range of lives and careers and have made their mark in many fields. Below, we list just a few of these graduates, giving an indication of the diversity of paths that our graduates follow after leaving Trinity.
Some notable Sociology Alumni from Trinity College Dublin
Oisin Coghlan (BESS, Sociology and Political Science, 1994): Director of Friends of the Earth Ireland
Jonathan Clynch (BESS, Sociology and Political Science, 1993): Reporter, RTE
Mary Corcoran (BESS, Sociology and Political Science, 1983): Professor of Sociology, NUI Maynooth
Patricia Deevy (BA in Sociology, 1987): Senior Editor, Penguin Ireland
Alan Gilsenan (BA in Sociology and English, 1984): Film maker and Chair of Irish Film Institute
Brian Goff (BESS, Sociology and Political Science, 1981): Founder Insomnia Coffee Company
Gerard Hanlon (PhD in Sociology, 1992): Professor of Organisational Sociology, Queen Mary College London
Emer Hoare (BESS, Sociology, 1998): Film producer. Productions include ‘Seeking Filipino Brides’, transmitted on BBC Northern Ireland
Fiach MacConghail (BESS, Sociology and Political Science, 1988): Director Abbey Theatre, Member of Seanad Éireann since 2011.
Kathryn O’Donoghue (BESS, Sociology and Economics, 1987): Director, Monetized Products Policy Operations Google EMEA.
David O’Sullivan (BA in Sociology and Economics, 1975): EU Ambassador to Washington
Séan O’Riain (BESS, Sociology and Political Science, 1990): Professor of Sociology, NUI Maynooth
Maria Slowey (MLitt in Sociology, 1981): Vice President for Learning Innovation, Dublin City University
Diarmaid Ward (MPhil in Ethnic and Racial Studies, 2010): Labour Councillor in Islington, London
Note: The information on this page is based on the most recent information available to us. The Department would be pleased to hear of any updates, amendments, or notable omissions, as well as any news about alumni. Please send these to the Department's Executive Officer, at sociology@tcd.ie, phone: +353 1 896 2701.