Creativity & Culture Research Group

Centres And GroupsCreativity & Culture Research Group

Creativity & Culture Research Group

The key research interests of the individual group members include Literature, Philosophy and Theology, Design, Film Studies, Music and Cultural Studies. The research group facilitates collaboration between researchers in various areas of Humanities to investigate the concepts of creativity and culture.

The group members examine the theoretical maxims of these concepts and then apply these to the individual disciplines, to provide a more in-depth insight into the nature of creativity and culture. In addition the group considers the interrelationship between creativity in the different disciplines to give a better understanding of how to encourage creative thinking and innovation. It also looks at the role of creativity throughout history and how it helped to shape culture.

The group provides a unique opportunity for a trans-disciplinary view of creativity and culture, and it also allows for collaboration between different areas. It therefore has the potential for a particular impact on educational training and society due to its distinctive constitution.

Interdisciplinary research between the areas of Literature, Philosophy and Theology, Design, Film Studies, Music and Cultural Studies is uncommon because of the organisational structure of traditional Universities: this group therefore is in a position to pursue original and innovative research in a hereto unexplored context. Central to the research initiative is how a more in-depth understanding of creativity and culture in humanity can make for a better human life in a better world.

Thematic Areas for Postgraduate Students

The current postgraduate students are working in the areas of Religious Studies and Theology, and Music.

Contact:  Dr. Michael Howlett   Email: [email protected]

CCRG Fulltime Faculty Members

  • Ms. Colette Colfer BA

  • Ms. Fiona Dowling BA Des, MA Des, MIDI

  • Dr. Richard Hayes BA, MA, PhD

  • Dr. Michael Howlett BSc, BD, STL, ThD, PhD

  • Dr. Colette Moloney PhD, B Mus, Dip. CSM, LRSM, LLCM(TD), LTCL, ALCM  

CCRG Postgraduate Research

In the 2007/2008 academic year, there were 8 registered postgraduate students in the Creativity & Culture Research Group - 4 studying at PhD level; and 4 studying at Masters level.

Main Project Aims

  • To investigate the conceptual and theoretical foundations of creativity and culture.

  • To consider the inter-relationship between creativity and culture.

  • To examine creativity and cultural trends in the different disciplines, particularly from the nineteenth century onwards.

  • To encourage creativity and innovation.

  • To interpret historical elements creatively in contemporary formats.

Colfer, C. (2007) ‘Islam in Ireland: Assimilation and Adaptation’ Bulletin ET -18(2007/1-2).

Hayes, R. (2007) ‘The Commercial Mob Amusement Racket’ in the Irish Reader: Essays for John Devitt, Hinds, M., Denman, P. & Kelleher, M. (eds), Dublin Otior, pp 39-47.

Howlett, M. (2007) ‘Technology and Theology: Colloquium on the Challenges of Technical Universities for Theology in Europe’ Bulletin ET -18(2007/1-2).

O’Connell, B. (2007) ‘A Comparative Study of Newfoundland and Irish Fiddle Styles’ Transcultural Perspectives on Canada, Canada Studies in Europe, Vol. 7. ISBN 978-80-210-4398-5, ISSN 1214-0562.

Conferences/Conference Proceedings/Symposia

Colfer, C. (2007) ‘Islam in Ireland’ Religion and the European Project: Theological   Perspectives, Leuven, Belguim (13-16 Sept. 2007).

Dowling, F. (2007) ‘Identity: Belonging on a Material World: European Cultural and Visual Influences on Graphic Inspiration’ Second International Conference of Sophia Europa,  Krakow, Poland (9-11 July 2007).

Dowling, F. (2007) ‘Human Identity and Creativity in Visual Representations’ Human Persons and God of Nature Conference, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK (3-6 Sept. 2007).

Howlett, M. (2007) ‘European Identity, Religion and Culture: A View from Ireland’ Second International Conference of Sophia Europa,  Krakow, Poland (9-11 July 2007).

Howlett, M. (2007) ‘Creativity and Imagination in the Poetry of Patrick Kavanagh’ Human Persons and God of Nature Conference, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK (3-6 Sept. 2007).

Howlett, M. (2007) ‘Technology and Theology: Colloquium on the Challenges of   Technical Universities for Theology in Europe’ Religion and the European Project: Theological Perspectives, Leuven, Belguim (13-16 Sept. 2007).

McDonald, D. (2007) ‘Henry Hudson (1798-1889), his Life, Music and Manuscripts’, American Conference of Irish Studies, University of Massachusetts, Boston (10 November).

McDonald, D. (2007) ‘The Irish Music Manuscripts of Henry Hudson (1798-1889)’, Society for Musicology in Ireland Annual Conference, DIT, Dublin (11-13 May) .

Moloney, C. (2007) ‘Nature versus Nurture in Musical Creativity’, Human Persons and the God of Nature Conference, Oxford, UK.

Moloney, C. (2008) ‘The Silent Witness: The Fiddle Manuscripts of John ‘Boss’ Murphy (1875-1955)’, North Atlantic Fiddle Conference, Memorial University, St. John's, NFL, 3-8 August.

O'Connell, Bridget (2008) ‘Examining the Fiddle Styles of the Port-au-Port Peninsula’, North Atlantic Fiddle Conference, Memorial University, St. John's, NFL, 3-8 August.

O’ Connell, B. (2007) ‘Examining the Fiddle Music of the Avalon Peninsula’, International Council for Traditional Music postgraduate conference, Waterford Institute of Technology, Ireland, 19th Jan.