Muireann Prendergast, a Postdoctoral Researcher at South East Technological University (SETU), has been awarded €8,278.37 in funding under Research Ireland’s New Foundations Programme.
The funding supports her project 'Time to be seen: Promoting gender balance in media discourses on agriculture and rural communities in Ireland'. The project seeks to investigate and address the underrepresentation of women’s voices and perspectives in media portrayals of rural Ireland and the agricultural sector. As part of the project, Muireann will be working with Macra na Feirme on the development of media training resources for the organisation’s SkillNet platform.
Muireann’s research in sociolinguistics applies critical discourse analysis and corpus tools to media texts. Her work draws on almost a decade of experience as a journalist in Argentina and Chile and focuses on the role of the media in sustaining and challenging dominant memory discourses. Her wider research interests include multimodality, political humour, and Latin American media discourses, all examined through a lens of inequality and democracy.
Speaking about the award, Muireann said, "This funding enables a much-needed exploration of how gendered narratives shape public understanding of rural and agricultural life in Ireland. I’m particularly interested in how the media can both challenge and reinforce inequality—this project is about making space for more balanced and inclusive storytelling."
Prof Marie Claire Van Hout, Vice President for Research, Innovation and Impact at SETU, congratulated Muireann on her achievement, by saying"This award reflects SETU’s commitment to research that addresses societal challenges and supports inclusion and equality. Muireann’s work exemplifies how critical research can influence discourse and policy, and we’re proud to support her contribution to a more equitable media landscape."
Celine Fitzgerald, Interim CEO of Research Ireland, also welcomed the announcement:
"The New Foundations programme exemplifies how research can be a powerful tool for societal change. By supporting collaboration between academic researchers and those working on the frontlines of community development and public policy, we can co-create knowledge that directly benefits people’s lives. We are proud to support these new projects, which will contribute to a more inclusive, sustainable and evidence-informed Ireland."
The New Foundations Programme, run by Research Ireland, supports projects that foster collaboration between researchers, civic society, and policymakers. Muireann’s project aims to inform more inclusive media practices and contribute to national conversations on gender equality in rural development.