Dr Ruan O’Donnell is a Senior Lecturer in History at UL, was Visiting Chair of Irish Studies at Notre Dame (2010-11), and is a graduate of UCD and the Australian National University. His numerous books on the history of Irish republicanism include the recent Special Category, The IRA in English Prisons, Volume II, 1978-1985 and Patrick Pearse. He has contributed to the globally screened ‘1916’ documentary series and contributed articles to The Irish Times, New York Times and Chicago Tribune. He is a member of the National Union of Journalists, ‘Universities Ireland Decade of Commemoration Committee’ and the Irish Manuscripts Commission. As a Scholar in Residence at the University of Montana, he will teach a course in Irish History.