Dr Dorothy Morrissey
More information
Dorothy Morrissey (she/her) is a Lecturer in Drama Education and Faculty of Education EDII Lead. She led the Faculty's successful submission for the Athena Swan (AS) Bronze Award in 2025. Dorothy is a member of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) Primary Arts Development Group. She is also Co-PI (with Dr Hannagh McGinley, 91ÖÆƬ³§) on the Government of Ireland, Department of Education and Youth commissioned Research and Evaluation of STAR (Supporting Traveller and Roma) strands of BLAST (Bringing Live Arts to Schools and Teachers) and Creative Clusters. She has published and presented widely on arts education and the arts in primary, special, HE and other settings. Dorothy previously worked in Teacher Continuing Professional Development, as a primary teacher in mainstream and special schools, and as an Adult Education Tutor (in Literature and Women's Studies) at University College Cork.
PUBLICATIONS
Journal articles (peer-reviewed)
Morrissey, D. (2026). The third space potential of an artist intervention in special education. Teaching and Teacher Education, 169, 1-10.
Curran, A. and Morrissey, D. (2023). Deconstructing the policy narratives at the roots of arts-in-education practice in Ireland: A potential othering of teachers at play? Irish Educational Studies 43(4): 1345-1362.
Morrissey, D. (2023). The pull of opposing forces: An inquiry into the ethical dimensions of an emergent research-based theatre project. Qualitative Inquiry 29(2): 374-382.
Morrissey, D. and Kenny, A. (2023). Teacher-artist partnership as teacher professional development. Irish Educational Studies 42(1): 59-77.
Kenny, A. and Morrissey, D. (2021). Negotiating teacher-artist identities: ‘Disturbance’ through partnership. Arts Education Policy Review 122(2): 93-100.
Morrissey, D. (2018). The habits of history: a research-based play script. The Qualitative Report 23(2): 403-421.
Morrissey, D. (2016). Reviewing literature on gender using found poetry and dramatic script. The Qualitative Report 21(12): 2284-2307.
Morrissey, D. (2014). An autoethnographic inquiry into the role of serendipity in becoming a teacher educator/researcher. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education 27(7): 837-849.
Book chapters
Kenny, A. and Morrissey, D. (2025) Arts initiatives in schools: Resourcing or outsourcing? In Durrer, V., Fitzgibbon, A. and McCall, K. Cultural policy: Perspectives on the island of Ireland. Routledge, pp.139-153.
Morrissey, D. (2021). Motherhood and the search for recognition in Deirdre Kinahan’s Moment (2011). In Clare, D. McDonagh, F. and Nakase, J. (Eds) The golden thread: Irish women playwrights (1716-2016). Liverpool University Press, pp. 157-167.
Morrissey, D. (2019). The roles we ‘were born to fill’: thinking about performing teaching with Mona Lisa Smile. In Conrad, D. and Prendergast, M. (Eds) Teachers and teaching onstage and onscreen: dramatic depictions. Intellect, pp. 32-40.
Morrissey, D. (2018). Metaphor and narrative as teaching, learning and research strategies in teacher education. In Hanne, A. and Kaal, A. (Eds) Narrative and metaphor in education: look both ways. Routledge, pp. 193-207.
Morrissey, D. (2012). Goldilocks’s testimony: an auto/ethnodrama. In Sparkes, A. C. (Ed) Auto/Biography Yearbook 2011. Russell Press, pp.124-134.
Morrissey, D. (2011). Having a ball: intertextuality and the performance of feminine identity in Maguy Marin’s dance work, Cinderella. In Kerchy, A. (Ed) Contemporary fictional repurposings and theoretical revisitings of fairy tales and fantasies. Edwin Mellen Press, pp. 49-66.
Research reports
Morrissey, D. (2024) 'I am Creative': Collaborating with artists in special education, a research report. Dublin: Department of Education.
Morrissey, D. (2023). Creative Clusters: A collaborative approach to cultivating creativity in Ireland’s schools. Dublin: Department of Education.
Morrissey, D. (2017). A review of Belltable:Connect Theatre Makers. Limerick: Belltable. Available at:
Kenny, A. and Morrissey, D. (2016). Exploring teacher-artist partnership as a model of CPD for supporting and enhancing arts education in Ireland: A research report. Dublin: Department of Education and Skills and Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.
Digital media publications
Fennell, N., Morrissey, D. and McGettrick, T. (2025). Outside in, inside out: A teacher-artist collaboration in initial teacher education. Available at: (non peer-reviewed).
Morrissey, D. (2019). Using drama to explore student teacher identity, Digital Repository of Ireland [Distributor], Arts and Culture in Education Research Repository [Depositing Institution], (peer-reviewed).
Morrissey, D. (2014). Let's take a risk. 91ÖÆƬ³§ Ed Talks. Available at: (non peer-reviewed).
Conference proceedings
Morrissey, D. (2010). In our own image? Cultivating creativity in a culture of compliance. In: Creativity and the arts in the primary school: discussion document and proceedings of the consultative conference on education 2009. Dublin: Irish National Teachers’ Organisation, pp.106-110. TEXT OF KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Morrissey, D. (2009). Moving through the looking glass: a physical approach to drama and story. In Govas, N. (Ed) Proceedings of the 6th Athens international theatre/drama and education conference 2008. Athens: The Hellenic Theatre/Drama and Education Network, pp.408-416.
Professional publications
Morrissey, D. (2022). Submission. Consultation on the Draft Primary Curriculum Framework (2020). NCCA. Available at:
Morrissey, D. (2017). Submission. Written submissions: consultation on curriculum structure and time. NCCA. Available at:
Gleeson, C. and Morrissey, D. (2014). Ideas for dance with third and fourth classes. In Touch 114 (May), pp.66-67.
Morrissey, D. (2014). The times they were a changing. In Carrig NS: 100 years on the rock. Carrig NS Centenary Committee, pp. 73-75.
Morrissey, D. (2013). The Arts in Education Charter. In Touch 138 (Oct), p.41.
Stokes, T. and Morrissey, D. (2012). Billie Butterfly’s adventure: ideas for dance and drama with infant classes. In Touch 131 (Nov), pp.60-61.
Morrissey, D. (2007). Movement and dance. In Moloney, M. et al. (Ed) Voice and choice. Limerick: 91ÖÆƬ³§ & Limerick City Childcare Committee, pp.55-58.
Completed research commissions (unpublished)
Kenny, A. and Morrissey, D. (2025). Poetry Ireland and the Writers in School Scheme: A position paper. (Submitted to Poetry Ireland.)
Morrissey, D. (2024). A research report on ‘The Wonder Project’: A sensory theatre project in special education. (Submitted to Baboró International Children’s Festival.)
Conference presentations (since 2021)
Morrissey, D. and McCabe, U. (2026). A duoethnographic exploration of the roots and routes of curriculum change in drama. European Congress of Qualitative Inquiry 2026: Global flows, relational connections, and collaborative practices. National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15 Jan.
Morrissey, D. and McDonagh, F. (2025). The third space potential of an inter-faculty collaboration involving theatre students and student teachers. Performing the Contemporary. University of Derby, 13 Nov.
McCabe, U. and Morrissey, D. (2025). A duoethnographic exploration of the roots and routes to curriculum changes in primary school drama in Ireland. Roots and Routes: 11th International Drama in Educational Research Institute. University of British Columbia, 21 June.
Morrissey, D. (2025). Charting a route for TYA in primary schools: The case of ‘Ballad of a Bandit’. Roots and Routes: 11th International Drama in Educational Research Institute. University of British Columbia, 24 June.
Morrissey, D. (2025). Artists in schools: The case for purposeful management. Educational Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference. Athlone, 10 April.
Morrissey, D. (2025). Sensory theatre in special education settings. Hellenic Theatre/Drama and Education Network: Theatre/Drama and Inclusive Education. Athens, 22 Mar.
Morrissey, D., MacLochlainn, M., and Barcelo Miquel (2024). TYA and Ireland’s new arts education curriculum: The case of ‘Ballad of a Bandit’. Talking TYA symposium 2024: Putting performance to work for children and young people. Baboró International Arts Festival for Children, University of Galway, 11 Oct.
Morrissey, D. (2024). ‘I am Creative’: Imagination and collaboration in Special Education. Educational Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference: Education for more just societies: the roles of imagination, innovation and collaboration. Maynooth University, 5 April.
Morrissey, D. (2023). 'I am Creative': Findings from a special education-artist initiative. 'Learning without limits', National Association of Boards of Management in Special Education Annual Conference. Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone, 19 Oct. INVITED ADDRESS
Morrissey, D. (2023). 'I am Creative': Emergent findings from a special education-artist initiative. Sustainable models of teacher-artist partnerships (TAP) in 21st century education: communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity. Hellenic Theatre/Drama & Education Network in co-operation with International-Teacher Artist Partnership-Professional Development (I-TAP-PD). Serafio City of Athens, 30 Jun. INVITED PRESENTATION
Morrissey, D. (2023). Developing systemically sustainable models of teacher-artist partnership: Is it worth the trouble? Sustainable models of teacher-artist partnerships (TAP) in 21st century education: communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity. Hellenic Theatre/Drama & Education Network in co-operation with International-Teacher Artist Partnership-Professional Development (I-TAP-PD). Serafio City of Athens, 29 Jun. KEYNOTE ADDRESS
McDonagh F. and Morrissey, D. (2023). Teacher-artist partnerships: Navigating between education and theatre. Irish Society for Theatre Research (ISTR). Balancing Acts. University of Galway, 5 May.
Morrissey, D. (2022). A theatrical approach to troubling gender with young children. International Drama in Education Research Institute (IDiERI) 10. University of Warwick, 11 July.
Morrissey, D. (2022). Resource-based drama teaching. International Drama/Theatre and Education Association (IDEA) 9th World Congress. Drama for all: Celebrating drama for tall and small in a changing world. University of Iceland, Reykjavik, 6 July.
Morrissey, D. (2022). The Wonder Project. IDEA 9th World Congress. Drama for all: Celebrating drama for tall and small in a changing world. University of Iceland, Reykjavik, 5 July.
Morrissey, D. (2022). Creative Clusters: A national model for improving creativity in Ireland’s primary schools. American Educational Research Association: Cultivating equitable education systems for the twenty-first century. Online, 23 Apr.
Morrissey, D. (2021). Using TYA resources to teach drama in primary schools. Children, Youth and Performance. York University, Canada (online), 26 Jun.
De Paor, D., Mooney-Simmie, G. and Morrissey, D. (2021). Stories from school exploring possibilities in school-based teacher education: People, purpose and place. Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI) 2021. Possibilities in Education: Reimagining Connections with People, Purpose and Place. Online, 26 Mar.
Research projects supervised to completion
Dolan, H. (DECPsych, graduating 2026). What educational psychologists can learn from children's voices on the experience of climate change (with Prof Niamh Stack, 91ÖÆƬ³§).
Rainsford, R. (MEd, graduating 2026). How do artist interventions work in the Early Childhood Education and Care sector?
Clerkin, S. (MEd, 2024). From page to stage: Adapting Seamus Heaney’s Sweeney Astray into a one-act play for young audiences (with Dr Fiona McDonagh, 91ÖÆƬ³§).
Mythen, A. (PhD, 2022). A performance-based narrative inquiry into the experiences of women in academic leadership in Ireland (with Dr Michael Finneran, 91ÖÆƬ³§).
De Paor, D. (PhD, 2021). Stories from school: A narrative inquiry exploring primary teachers’ experiences of school-based teacher education (with Prof Geraldine Mooney-Simmie, UL).
Sullivan, N. (MEd, 2020). Connections, community and visual arts: A study of artists and teachers working together in a Community of Practice.
Hargreaves, J. (MEd, 2018). A qualitative study of the value of art education in Further Education and Training (FET).
Curran, A. (MA, 2016). Unmasking the superhero: a narrative inquiry into the construction of gender narratives in early childhood.
Power, G. (MA, 2016). Using picture books as a stimulus for cross-curricular learning with infant classes.
O’Sullivan, M. (MA, 2015). What does All About Eve teach a woman about ageing?
Ryan, C. (MEd, 2013). From implicit to explicit: an examination of the effects of Collaborative Strategic Reading (CSR) on the comprehension strategy usage, motivation to read and critical thinking of 3rd and 4th class children.
Burns-Sharma, C. (MEd, 2012). Creating safe learning environments.
Cleary, M. (MEd, 2012). A narrative inquiry into how the experience of learning to read transformed the lives of a learner and a teacher in adult education.
McGealy, K. (MEd, 2011). An exploration of techniques used to strengthen the resilience of educators.
Makoni Fenix, P. (MEd, 2009). An investigation into factors affecting the use of Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) for children with emotional social and behaviour difficulties: A case study. (School of Education, University of Roehampton.)
Neylon, J. (MEd, 2007). A study into the processes involved in computer-based collaborative groupwork with second class.
O’ Reilly, C. (MEd, 2007). An investigation into the dietary intake and physical activity patterns of two groups of fifth class children in a disadvantaged area in Mid-West Ireland.
Laherty, B. (MEd, 2006). Visual art in rehabilitative education.
McGrath, M. (MEd, 2004). The practice of learning support in two to seven teacher primary schools in Co Limerick.
Brady, O. (MEd, 2003). How can puppetry, as a concrete manipulative, motivate children to show care and consideration to others?
EXTERNAL (TO 91ÖÆƬ³§) RESEARCH FUNDING
Department of Education and Youth (Social Inclusion Unit) Commission (2025): Research and Evaluation of STAR (Supporting Traveller and Roma) strand of BLAST (Bringing Live Arts to Schools and Teachers and Creative Clusters. (Co PI with Dr Hannah McGinley, 91ÖÆƬ³§)
Poetry Ireland Commission (2025): Position paper on Poetry Ireland's Writers in Schools scheme. (With Dr Ailbhe Kenny, 91ÖÆƬ³§)
Department of Education (Curriculum Assessment and Policy Unit) Commission (2023): Research and Evaluation of 'I am Creative'. (PI)
Baboro International Children's Festival Commission (2022): The Wonder Project. (PI)
Department of Education (Curriculum Assessment and Policy Unit) Commission (2019): Research and Evaluation of Creative Clusters. (PI)
Department of Education and Skills and Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Commission (2014): Exploring teacher-artist partnership as a model of CPD for supporting and enhancing arts education in Ireland. (Co PI with Dr Ailbhe Kenny, 91ÖÆƬ³§).
Galway 2020: International Talking TYA (online) conference. (With Dr Fiona McDonagh, 91ÖÆƬ³§, Prof Tom Maguire, Ulster University, Marianne Ni Chinneide, University of Galway, Marc MacLochlainn, Branar Téatar do PháistÃ)
Research travel grant (2013): European Network for the Diffusion of Performing Arts for Early Childhood.
