Therese Farrell

Dr

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Dr Thérèse Farrell is an Assistant Professor in Early Childhood Education at the Institute of Education. She lectures on a range of undergraduate, postgraduate and inservice programmes.  Prior to her appointment in 2012, Thérèse worked as a primary teacher and as a tutor for Aistear, The Early Childhood Curriculum Framework (NCCA, 2009). Her MEd specialised in early childhood education and her research focused on children’s perspectives of play.
Thérèse has a range of research interests including curriculum and pedagogy, children’s citizenship, agency and policy analysis. She completed her doctoral studies at the University of Sheffield under the supervision of Professor Elizabeth Wood and Dr Liz Chesworth. Her thesis uses a Foucauldian lens to present a genealogical account of how power has shaped early childhood pedagogy. Thérèse is the Research Convenor for the School of Language, Literacy and Early Childhood Education.    

Book Chapter

Year Publication
2023 Farrell, T & Giblin, F. (2023) 'The right to play: Reconceptualising children’s rights in the early years classroom. In B, Mallon, F. Waldron, F & C. Ní Cassaithe. (Eds.). Pushing the Boundaries of Human Rights Education: Concepts, Challenges and Contexts (1st ed.). (pp. 65-80)' In: Pushing the Boundaries of Human Rights Education: Concepts, Challenges and Contexts. London : Routledge. [Link]
2011 Dunphy, E. & Farrell, T. (2011) 'Eliciting young children's perspectives on indoor play provision in their classroom: Reflections and challenges' In: Researching young children's perspectives: Debating the ethics and dilemmas of educational research with children. London : Routledge.

Peer Reviewed Journal

Year Publication
2022 Lake, G., Urban, M., Giblin, F., French, G. and Farrell, T. (2022) 'Making a difference in the real world'. Evaluation and Program Planning, .
2021 McCabe, U.; Farrell, T. (2021) 'Play, pedagogy and power: a reinterpretation of research using a Foucauldian lens'. International Journal of Early Years Education, 29 . [Link] [DOI]

Conference Contribution

Year Publication
2018 McCabe, U & Farrell, T. (2018) BERA Play, Pedagogy & Power Northumbria University, UK, .
2017 Farrell, T (2017) British Educational Research Association Neoliberalism in Early Childhood Education Brighton University, .
2017 Wood, E.; Chesworth, E., Farrell, T., Archer, N. & Kay, L. (2017) BERA Symposium on Neoliberalism in ECE Brighton University, UK, .
2017 Farrell, T (2017) Research to Empower Educational Leaders – REEL Foucault, Power and Early Childhood Education Drumcondra Education Centre, .
2013 Farrell, T (2013) A Global Gathering for Early Childhood Developing play pedagogy: the role of the adult Aviva Stadium, Dublin, .
2010 Farrell, T (2010) Playing to Learn: Sowing the Seeds to Start the Journey The role of the adult in play Froebel College of Education, .
2009 Farrell, T (2009) Teachers as Researchers Young children's perspectives of play St. Patrick's College, .
2024 Barry, M, Farrell, T. and Mallon, B. (2024) Global Villages Consortium Global Citizenship Education in ECE Maynooth University, .
2024 Barry, M., Farrell, T. and Mallon, B. (2024) Sustainability in ECE Sustainability in Early Childhood Education Stranmillis University, .

Published Report

Year Publication
2024 Walsh, G., Winter, F., Farrell, T., Orr, K., Hanna., K., McCartney, S., Ballentine, M., and Miller, AM. (2024) An Independent Review of the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme in Ireland. DCEDIY, .
2024 Barry, M., Farrell, T. and Mallon, B. (2024) Global Citizenship Education in Early Childhood Education - Practices and Possibilities. Global Citizenship in Primary Schools, .
2022 French, G., Farrell, T., McCormack, M., NicMhuiri, S. and Shiel, C. (2022) Enabling community engagement to support literacy, digital literacy, and numeracy development for All children. DES, .
2022 Farrell, T. and McKenna, G. (2022) Chapter 5 Identity and Belonging in Literature review to support the updating of Aistear, the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework. NCCA, .
2022 NicMhuri, S., Farrell, T., French, G., McCormack, M. & Shiel, C. (2022) Enabling family engagement to support literacy, digital literacy, and numeracy development for All children. DES, .
2014 Dooley, T., Dunphy, E., Shiel, G., Butler, D., Corcoran, D., Farrell, T., NicMhuirí, S., O'Connor, M., Travers, J. & Perry, B (2014) Mathematics in Early Childhood and Primary Education, Children aged 3-8 years, Volume 18: Teaching and Learning. NCCA, .
Certain data included herein are derived from the ? Web of Science (2024) of Clarivate. All rights reserved.

Research Interests

Children's participation
Children's voice, agency and citizenship
Play and pedagogy
Curriculum and assessment 
Policy analysis
Neoliberalism 
Poststructural theories


Research Projects

Title Role Description Start date End date
Review of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme DCU PI 01/09/2022 31/08/2023

Current Postgraduate Students

Student Name Degree Supervision
Barr ,Anna Doctor of Education Supervisor
Golubeva ,Anna PhD Supervisor

Teaching Interests

Early Childhood Education Core Modules:

BEd1: ED1011 Foundations in Education and Early Childhood Education
Play, Language and Learning

BEd2: ED2021 STEM and Early Childhood Education
Mathematics in the Early Years

BEd3: ED3011 Integrated Learning across the Curriculum
Early Years Teaching and Learning

BEd4: ED4015 Research Project
Developing a play policy to support play pedagogy in the infant classroom

Early Childhood Education Major Specialism Modules:
BEd2: EC223 Children's Participation in Early Childhood Education and Care

BEd4: EC421 Transition to Schools

MEd Specialisng in Early Childhood Education:
EC901: Children's Participation in Early Childhood Education and Care

Modules Coordinated

Term Title Subject
2022 Foundations in Education and ECE ED1011
2022 Young Children's Participation in ECEC EC223