Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has hired Professor Patrick Geoghegan, a Historian at Trinity College, to assist him in speechwriting, research and other issues. Prof. Geoghegan is on sabbatical in Trinity College and will be given a leave of absence to join Mr Varadkar’s staff.
Speaking to Trinity News, Professor Geoghegan said: “The details of the role and the responsibilities are still to be finalised – including my exact title – but it’s an exciting challenge and I’m really looking forward to it.” He also added that “Historians can often take a longer perspective on issues, providing invaluable context, so I hope I can assist in any way I can.”
Prof. Geoghegan is an expert on the Anglo-Irish relationships in the late-eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and is vice-president of the College Historical Society. He was awarded a teaching excellence award by Provost Patrick Prendergast in 2009 and has taught on the Trinity Access Programme since 1999.
Prof. Geoghegan took the role of Undergraduate Dean of Trinity and in this capacity he developed a feasibility study to test a new admissions route for undergraduate entry, as well as a Northern Ireland Engagement Programme which saw an increase in the number of Northern Ireland students admitted to Trinity.
Prof. Geoghegan is a presenter on the award winning ‘Talking History’ radio show on Newstalk. He has also been commissioned to write the official history of the College Historical Society for its 250th anniversary.
He has written numerous books such as ‘Robert Emmet: A life’ and ‘King Dan: The rise of Daniel O’Connell’. He is currently researching 18 century Trinity alumnus and founder of the College Historical Society Edmund Burke and how his oratory was used to change debate.
Additional reporting by Sarah Meehan.