Professor Katy Hayward, Professor Fiona Magowan, and Professor Diane Urquhart from the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Queen’s were admitted alongside 25 other newly elected members for 2023 during the Admittance Ceremony which took place on Friday 26 May in the Royal Irish Academy, Dublin. 

Katy Hayward is professor of Political Sociology in the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work; a Fellow at the Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice; and co-director of the Centre for International Borders Research. Professor Hayward was awarded a Ewart-Biggs Memorial Prize for her work improving public understanding of the impact of Brexit on the island of Ireland. 

Professor Hayward said: “My very first conference paper as a PhD student in UCD was delivered in the Royal Irish Academy. I recall the sense of awe and excitement as I entered its splendid building in Dawson Street; and I still feel the same today! 

“But becoming a member is much more than a personal honour. Truth, tradition, and academic independence are essential to the functioning of a good democratic society. The Royal Irish Academy plays an essential role in this regard on the island of Ireland. It will be an enormous privilege to contribute to that.” 

Fiona Magowan is professor of Anthropology in the School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics and Theme Lead for Religion, Arts and Peacebuilding at the Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork across a global range of settings, her research in ethnomusicology, religion, gender, arts, and performance is internationally esteemed. 

Professor Magowan commented: “I am greatly honoured to be elected a member of the Royal Irish Academy with its world-leading research in the arts, humanities and social sciences. I look forward to collaborating with Academy colleagues to advance publicly engaged research agendas across the island.” 

Diane Urquhart is the chair of Gender History in the School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics. She is a trailblazing historian of gender and of Irish Unionism, whose work is highly respected for its rigorous and trustworthy archival research. 

Professor Urquhart said: “I am delighted and honoured to have been elected as a member of the Royal Irish Academy in acknowledgement for my work on Irish women's and gender history.

“I have previously contributed to Academy publications like the recent edited collection by Siobhan Fitzpatrick and Mary O'Dowd entitled Sisters: Nine Families of Sisters who made a Difference (2022) which spotlights notable and courageous women in Ireland's past.  

“I have also helped to assess the Academy's Decade of Centenaries Bursary Scheme which encourages and supports community and academic historical engagement with local, regional, and national events during the independence and the Civil War period. I now look forward to continuing and furthering this work as an Academy member.” 

Congratulating the academics on this achievement, President and Vice-Chancellor of Queen’s, Professor Ian Greer commented: “I warmly congratulate Professor Hayward, Professor Magowan, and Professor Urquhart on this great honour. I am delighted that my highly esteemed colleagues have been recognised by the Royal Irish Academy for their outstanding research and achievements.” 

The Royal Irish Academy is an all-island independent forum of peer-elected experts. Membership of the Academy is the highest academic honour in Ireland. 

The academic body promotes study and excellence in the sciences, humanities, and social sciences, as well as to public service, and has been honouring Ireland’s leading contributors to the world of education and learning since its establishment in 1785.