• Skip to navigation
  • Skip to content
Ulster University logo Return to Ulster University homepage
  • Global students – Resources for Ulster University International Students
  • Staff Links – Resources for Ulster University staff
  • Student Guide - The Student Guide to Ulster
  • Portal - for Ulster University
  • Find staff & Departments – search and browse Ulster’s staff directory
  • News – for Ulster University
  • Events – for Ulster University
  • Home - Ulster University website homepage
  • Study at Ulster University

    Study options

    • Study in Northern Ireland
    • Undergraduate study options
    • Postgraduate study options
    • Postgraduate Research/ PhD
    • Short courses and CPD
    • Part-time Undergraduate study options
    • Part-time study options
    • eLearning study at Ulster University

    Courses

    • Search for courses
    • A to Z 2023/24
    • A to Z 2022/23

    More information

    • Entrance requirements
    • Equivalence of qualifications
    • Your rights and obligations
    • International students
    • Further education students
    • Associate students
  • Campus Life at Ulster University

    Campus Life

    • Campuses
    • Accommodation - Residential Services
    • Sport Services
    • Students' Union UUSU
    • All Ulster University Events

    Support

    • Student Guide
    • Student Wellbeing
    • Digital Services
    • Library

    Careers and Opportunities

    • Employability and Careers
    • Go Global
    • Science Shop
    • Student Enterprise
  • Research & Impact

    Research & Impact

    • Our research
    • Collaboration and Innovation
    • Work with us
    • Our Research Topics
    • Our Research Teams

    PhD/Research degrees

    • Funded & Self Funded PhDs
    • Postgraduate Research Programmes
    • How to apply for PhD Research
    • Funding for Phd's
    • Contact the Doctoral College

    More information

    • PURE - research portal
    • REF 2021 (Research Excellence Framework)
    • Policies and Procedures
  • Business themed areas of Ulster University

    Work with Us

    • Recruit top talent
    • Business School student placements
    • Scholarships, sponsorships and corporate giving
    • Upskill courses by Sector

    Business Engagement

    • Build a course
    • Executive Education Courses
    • Apprenticeship Hub
    • Business leader Peer Mentoring
    • Postgraduate short courses

    Research Expertise

    • Work with us
    • Funding opportunities
    • Innovation Ulster Ltd
    • Case studies
    • Meet the team

    Further Information

    • Market information
    • Hire one of our venues
  • Graduates of Ulster University
  • Home - Go to homepage
  • Study Options at Ulster University
  • Find a course at Ulster University
  • Campus Life
  • Research & Impact at Ulster University
  • Business at Ulster University
  • Graduates - find out about Alumni and Supporters at Ulster University
  • Global Students – become part of our global community at Ulster University

  • Student Guide
  • Staff Links – Resources for Ulster University staff
  • Find staff & Departments – search and browse Ulster’s staff directory
  • Portal – customise and access your online services

  •   Twitter account for Ulster University
  •   Facebook account for Ulster University
  •   YouTube account for Ulster University
Ulster University
  • Search
  • Link for Ulster University
  • Link for News
  • Link for 2020
  • Link for December

Ulster graduate fulfils lifelong dream of completing a PhD

Margaret McDermott graduates with a PhD in modern languages and linguistics

18 December 2020
Share Article: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn

Native Irish speaker Margaret McDermott graduates this winter with a PhD in modern languages and linguistics.

Margaret returned to higher education in 2014, studying for a Master of Research on a part time basis whilst still working full-time as a teacher. She graduated from the course with a distinction but her journey with Ulster University was only just beginning.

“The MRes programme was a turning point for me as far as my career was concerned; my passion for learning was rekindled. Having taken encouragement and being inspired by my research supervisor, Dr Peter Smith, I decided to apply for a career break and a scholarship that would enable me to become a PhD researcher. In September 2017, having won a research scholarship, I enrolled as a full-time researcher at Magee.”

Margaret’s PhD project was entitled Paidreacha Traidisiúnta, Dánta Diaga agus Stair na Comhaimsire:
Lánléargas ar Mheon  Spioradálta Chaitlicigh Uladh, ón Ochtú hAois Déag go dtí an Fichiú hAois (Traditional Prayers, Religious Poetry and Contemporary History: A Panorama of the Mindset of the Catholics of Ulster, from the Eighteenth Century to the Twentieth Century).

The research was conducted through the lens of a thoroughgoing examination of a representative corpus of religious text in verse form that had its roots in the Counter Reformation of the 17th century but evolved during the Penal Era of the 18th century.

Margaret compiled and analysed a corpus of traditional prayers and religious poetry and completed a contextualising study of contemporary social and political history.

Central themes of the prayers and poems were examined and correlated with the teachings of the Catholic Church. Reference was also made to popular non-orthodox religious beliefs in Ireland.

Margaret embraced her new role as PhD researcher with diligence and enthusiasm,

“As a native Irish speaker from the townland of Mín Doire Dhamh in the Gaeltacht parish of Gaoth Dobhair in northwest Donegal, it is not surprising that I possess a deep-rooted love and passion for my mother tongue.  

“I was blessed to have two experts to guide me on my path of discovery, i.e. Dr Peter Smith, whom I previously mentioned, and Dr Éamonn Ó Ciardha. Dr Smith is a Reader in Irish and course director while Dr Ó Ciardha is a renowned historian. I will always be indebted to these fir uaisle for unconditionally sharing their in-depth knowledge and wisdom with me along with countless numbers of books from their own personal and private libraries.”

From day one Margaret was determined to finish the programme within the allocated three year period and graduate in the winter of 2020.

“I remained motivated throughout, and I am proud and delighted that I managed to achieve my goal.”


Related news

  1. Fri 01 Jul 2022

    Celebrate the Launch of ‘The Songs of Sam Henry’ Album by local musician and PhD Researcher

  2. Fri 01 Jul 2022

    Careers Teachers’ Summit 2022 welcomes 100 delegates to the Magee campus

  3. Thu 30 Jun 2022

    Ulster University supports Learning, Teaching and Student Experience Conference for UK Business Educators

  4. Thu 30 Jun 2022

    The 120 miles a day uni roundtrip that led to a dream research job in the USA

Elsewhere on Ulster

Faculty of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment

Faculty of Life and Health Sciences

Ulster University Business School- Faculty

Courses & Research

  • Search for courses
  • Undergraduate courses at Ulster University
  • Postgraduate courses at Ulster University
  • Part-time courses at Ulster University
  • Short courses & CPD at Ulster University
  • Study online at Ulster University
  • Research & Impact
  • Doctoral College
  • PURE Research Portal

Campus locations

  • Belfast campus
  • Coleraine campus
  • Jordanstown campus
  • Magee campus
  • London and Birmingham
  • Qatar

Campus facilities

  • Residential Services / Accommodation
  • Sports Services - Memberships and Facilities
  • Library Services and resources supporting learning, teaching and research at the University

About The University

  • About Ulster University
  • Contact Details
  • Job opportunities
  • Key calendar dates
  • Faculties at Ulster University
  • News - Ulster University
  • Events - Ulster University

Other sites

  • Alumni & Supporters
  • Confucius Institute
  • Get advice from Employability and Careers
  • Finance Department
  • Flexible Education
  • Digital Services - computing, digital and media services
  • People & Culture
  • Student Wellbeing
  • Sustainability

Ulster University social

@StudyAtUlster Follow us on Twitter @UlsterUni Follow us on Twitter
/studyatulster /ulsteruniversity
/StudyAtUlster /UlsterUniversity
/ulsteruni
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Statements
  • Copyright
  • Freedom of Information
  • Modern Slavery Statement

© Copyright Ulster University 2022.

Ulster University is registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland (NIC100166).