ROINN AN BHÉALOIDIS
DEPARTMENT OF FOLKLORE
Head of Department:
Dr. Stiofán Ó Cadhla
Executive Assistant:
Bláthnaid Ní Bheaglaoí
Lecturers:
Dr. Stiofán Ó Cadhla
Dr. Marie-Annick Desplanques
Dr. Clíona O’Carroll
Ciarán Ó Gealbháin
Dr. Margaret Humphreys
Jennifer Butler
Angun Sønnesyn Olsen
Department Website:
http://www.ucc.ie/folklore
Handbooks and all relevant information on the
Departmental Web Page.
Course Organisers:
Dr. Stiofán Ó Cadhla, Dr. Marie-Annick Desplanques, Dr.
Clíona O’Carroll & Ciarán Ó Gealbháin
Léann Dúchais Leictreonach (LDL)
Dr. Stiofán Ó Cadhla, Dr. Marie-Annick Desplanques, Dr.
Clíona O’Carroll, Ciarán Ó Gealbháin, Dr. John Eastlake
& Colin MacHale
Cork Northside Folklore Project:
Northside Community Enterprises Ltd
St. Finbarr’s College
Farranferris
Redemption Road
Cork
Mary O'Driscoll
http://www.ucc.ie/research/nfp/
Manager:
Website:
Department Office is Located on the Top Floor of No. 5 Elderwood, College Road
Office Hours from 09:15 – 13:00 and 14:10 – 17:00 Monday to Friday
Telephone: 021 4903935
email:
b.begley@ucc.ie
http://www.ucc.ie/folklore
http://twitter.com/@folkucc
http://www.facebook.com/pages/UCC-Folklore/122545201130379
Page 1 of 28
Explanatory Note
Folklore comprises the spontaneous representation of a community’s or a group’s experience of
ordinary life in the here and now. As a social science the study of Folklore has as its subject matter
cultural traditions having to do with the interpretation and expression of the world as socially
perceived. Folklore itself is understood as a specific traditional world-view and attitude to life held
by the generality of a population. This is a conception of the world which exists independently of
and, by and large, in opposition to official cultural forms. As such it is transmitted largely apart
from formal cultural channels such as the churches, schooling and the mass media.
In an Irish comparative context the study of Folklore involves the study of
(a)
(b)
(c)
Oral literature, i.e. verbal art forms-such a folktales-their performance and performers;
Popular material culture, i.e. the ‘concrete’ forms of traditional culture such as tools and
housing;
Popular religion, i.e. traditional ritual forms and the field of folk belief, e.g. ghost and fairy
belief, holy will pilgrimage, divination, healing, mortuary rites.
We try to analyse and interpret materials of Irish Folklore recorded from both rural and urban
contexts and we are particularly concerned with fieldwork, i.e. the study through collection,
transcription, classification and analysis of the oral tradition of contemporary communities.
Our approach emphasises the comparative European background to Irish tradition and combines the
analytical approaches to the discipline of Folklore with those of Social Anthropology and
Semiotics. Visit our website for further information @ http://www.ucc.ie/folklore.
Entry Requirements
FL2111: “Aspects of Irish Folklore” – Open to all visiting students
FL2111 is an introduction to the study of folklore and popular culture in Ireland. It was designed
for students who have little or no previous knowledge of the subject. The unit provides an
overview of development, change and innovation within the discipline for the point of view of
contemporary folklore and ethnology.
This unit covers what has traditionally been understood as the main areas of folklore and ethnology,
narrative (story telling), ritual, custom and belief and material culture. Sample texts and case
studies will be examined in class to provide an insight into contemporary approaches to the
discipline.
Other modules that are available to you: FL1004, FL2001, FL2002 & FL2004 (information on
these modules are on pages 6 to 13 of the booklet).
The Research Seminar FL2003 & FL3003 is only available to visiting students under exceptional
circumstances.
Notice board for Folklore is located on the Ground Floor of 5 Elderwood, College Road.
Page 2 of 28
Module Description
FL2111 Aspects of Irish Folklore (Visiting Erasmus/Socrates/JYA Students)
Credit Weighting: 5
Teaching Period(s): Available in Teaching Period I and II
No. of Students: Min. 2; Max. 50
Pre-requisite(s): None
Co-requisite(s): None
Teaching Methods: 24 x Lectures, 12 x Tutorials (To be confirmed)
Module Co-ordinator: Dr. Margaret Humphreys
Lecturer(s): Dr. Margaret Humphreys
Module Objective: To introduce students to the study of folklore and popular culture in Ireland.
Module Content: The unit provides an overview of development of folklore studies and ethnology
in Ireland. It examines the contexts and genres of storytelling in Ireland, explores fairy lore and its
significance to the communities where it was generated, and presents aspects of the traditional
calendar and associated customs.
Learning Outcomes: On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
- To introduce students to the background and history of Irish Folklore Scholarship.
- To develop an appreciation of narrative and story in traditional and contemporary contexts.
- To familiarise students with calendar customs and the ritual year.
- To introduce students to aspects of Irish material culture.
- To introduce students to the techniques of ethnographic fieldwork.
Assessment: Total Marks 100: End of Semester Written Examination 70 Marks, Continuous
Assessment 30 Marks (1x1,500 word essay).
Compulsory Elements: Continuous Assessment (1x1500 word essays) 30 marks.
Penalties (for late submission of Course/Project Work etc.): 1% deduction per day late.
Pass Standard and any Special Requirements for Passing Module: 40%
End of Year Written Examination Profile: 1 x 1½ hr(s) paper(s).
Requirements for Autumn Supplemental Examination: None.
Supplemental Examination.
There is no Autumn
Page 3 of 28
FL2111 ASPECTS OF IRISH FOLKLORE READING LIST
(1) The History of Irish Folklore Scholarship
* O Danachair, C. (1983) 'The Progress of Irish Ethnology, 1783-1982' in Ulster Folklife, vol. 29
pages 3-17.
* O Giollain, D. (1990) ‘Folklore the Nation and the State’ in The Journal of the Finnish
Anthropological Society.
* O Giollain, D. (2000) Locating Irish Folklore : tradition, modernity, identity, Sterling V.A; Cork
University Press.
O Duilearga, S. (1927) Béaloideas vol. 1.
O Suilleabhin, S. (1970) A Handbook of Irish Folklore, Detroit; Singing Tree Press.
Burke, P. (1994) Popular Culture in Early Modern Europe, Aldershot; Wilwood House.
(2) Stories and Storytelling
* Almqvist, B. (1979) The Irish Folklore Commission, Baile Atha Cliath; Comhairle Bealoideas
Éireann.
* Brennan-Harvey, C. (1992) Contemporary Irish Traditional Narrative, The English Language
Tradition, Berkley; University of California Press.
* Glassie, H. (1987) Irish Folktales, Harmaondsworth; Penguin.
Carney, J. (1967) The Irish Bardic Poet, Dublin; Dolmen Press.
* Gregory, Lady Augusta (1920) Visions and Beliefs in the West of Ireland, New York and
London; The Knickerbocker Press.
* Brunvand, J.H. (1981) The Vanishing Hitchhiker, London; Picador.
(3) Calendar / Festivals / Customs and Beliefs
* Danaher, K. (1972) The Year in Ireland, Cork; Mercier Press.
* MacNeill, M. (1982) The Festival of Lugnasa, Dublin; Comhairle Bhéaloideas Éireann.
Muller, S. (1988) ‘Samhain the Dead Centre of Time’ in Sinsear, vol.5 pages 88-99.
Cathasaigh, D. (1982) The Cult of Brigid: A Study of Pagan Christian Syncretism in Ireland’ in
Preston (ed.) Mother Worship, North Carolina; University o North Carolina Press. Pages 75-94.
* Ross, A. (1986) The Pagan Celts, London; Batsford. Pages 101-132 (Desk Reserve).
Santino, J. (1994) Halloween and Other Festivals of Life and Death, Knoxville; The University of
Tennessee Press.
(4) Material Culture
* Danaher, K. (1978) Irish Vernacular Architecture, Cork; Mercier Press.
* Kinmonth, C. (1993) Irish Country Furniture 1700-1950, New Haven; Yale University Press.
(Desk Reserve).
* Ulster Folklife, (Q + 1 various volumes).
(5) Ethnography, Principles and Practices
* Agar, M. (1980) The Professional Stranger: An Informal Introduction to Ethnography, New
York; Academic Press.
Hammersley, M. & Atkinson, P. (1986) Ethnography Principles in Practice, London; Havistock.
Finnegan, Ruth (1992) Oral Traditions and the Verbal Arts: A Guide to Research Practices.
* The symbol indicates the articles or books that are of key importance to the course.
Page 4 of 28
FL2111 Aspects of Irish Folklore
TIMETABLE
TERM 1
CODE
FL2111F
FL2111F
TITLE
LECTURER
TIME
DAY
VENUE
Aspects of
Irish
Folklore
Aspects of
Irish
Folklore
Dr. Margaret
Humphreys
13:00-14:00
Tue
Geology /
Geography_LT
Dr. Margaret
Humphreys
12:00-13:00
Thur
Food Science
Building A1
TITLE
LECTURER
TIME
DAY
VENUE
Aspects of
Irish
Folklore
Aspects of
Irish
Folklore
Dr. Margaret
Humphreys
13:00-14:00
Tue
Geology /
Geography_LT
Dr. Margaret
Humphreys
12:00-13:00
Thur
Boole 2
TERM 2
CODE
FL2111S
FL2111S
NB Timetable should always be confirmed, please check the Noticeboard on the Ground Floor, 5
Elderwood, College Road.
Page 5 of 28
Other Modules
FL1004 Irish Folklore and Culture: An Introduction
Credit Weighting: 15
Teaching Period(s): Teaching Periods 1 and 2
No. of Students: Min 10, Max 150
Pre-requisite(s): None
Co-requisite(s): None
Teaching Methods: 72hr(s) Lectures; 24hr(s) Tutorials
Module Co-ordinator: Dr Marie-Annick Desplanques, Roinn An Bhéaloidis
Lecturer(s): Dr. Stiofán Ó Cadhla, Dr Clíona O'Carroll & Ciarán Ó Gealbháin, Roinn An
Bhéaloidis.
Module Objective: To introduce the subject of Irish folklore, popular culture, ethnology.
Module Content: This module will introduce (a) stories and storytelling tradition with reference to
genre, repertoire, context, performance or meaning (b) Ritual, belief and festival with reference to
celebration, worldview and popular culture and (c) Material Culture and Lifestyle with reference to
tools, technology, architecture and examples of people's material experience of life.
Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
 Recognise the main areas in the study of folklore, popular.
 Learn the concept of vernacular narrative.
 Understand underlying ideas of popular belief and practice.
 Study and gain knowledge of material culture within popular culture.
 Understand festival in cultural contexts.
Assessment: Total Marks 300: End of Year Written Examination 225 marks; Continuous
Assessment 75 marks (3 Essays x 1,250 Words Each (25 Marks for each Essay)).
Compulsory Elements: End of Year Written Examination; Continuous Assessment.
Penalties (for late submission of Course/Project Work etc.):
Where work is submitted up to and including 7 days late, 5% of the total marks available shall be
deducted from the mark achieved. Where work is submitted up to and including 14 days late, 10%
of the total marks available shall be deducted from the mark achieved. Work submitted 15 days
late or more shall be assigned a mark of zero.
Pass Standard and any Special Requirements for Passing Module: 40%
End of Year Written Examination Profile: 2 x 3 hr(s) paper(s).
Page 6 of 28
2011-2012 Timetable
CODE
TITLE
FL1004
FL1004
FL1004
FL1004
FL1004
LECTURER(S)
TIME
DAY
VENUE
Material Culture
and Lifestyle
Dr. Cliona
O’Carroll
10:00-11:00
Mon
Kane_G20
Term 1
Material Culture
and Lifestyle
Dr. Cliona
O’Carroll
10:00-11:00
Mon
ORB_202
Term 2
Ciarán Ó
Gealbháin
14:00-15:00
Tue
AL_G19
Term 1
Ciarán Ó
Gealbháin
14:00-15:00
Tue
WW_9
Term 2
Dr. Stiofán Ó
Cadhla
10:00-11:00
Wed
WW_5
Stories &
Storytelling
Traditions
Stories &
Storytelling
Traditions
Ritual, Belief and
Festival
NB Timetable should always be confirmed, please check the Noticeboard on the Ground
Floor, 5 Elderwood, College Road.
Page 7 of 28
FL2001 Irish Folklore and History
Credit Weighting: 5
Teaching Period(s): Teaching Period 1
No. of Students: Min 2, Max 50
Pre-requisite(s): None
Co-requisite(s): None
Teaching Methods: 24 x 1hr(s) Lectures
Module Co-ordinator: Dr Stiofán Ó Cadhla, Roinn An Bhéaloidis.
Lecturer(s): Jennifer Butler, Roinn An Bhéaloidis.
Module Objective: To outline how folklore emerges in Ireland and in Europe in the 19th & 20th
Century and discuss aspects of its evolution.
Module Content: An examination of the intellectual background and development of folklore and
ethnology, academically ideologically, in Ireland and in Europe generally, from the 18th Century.
The emergence of the idea, the discipline and discuss some of the key ideas associated with it.
Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
 Outline the development of the field of folklore and ethnological research.
 Discuss the intellectual background of folklore research.
 Examine the ideology behind phases of folklore collection.
 Discuss connections between folklore, politics and nationalism.
 Survey the major developments that led to the establishment of folklore and ethnology as an
academic discipline.
Assessment: Total Marks 100: Continuous Assessment 100 marks (1 x 2,500 word essay).
Compulsory Elements: Continuous Assessment.
Penalties (for late submission of Course/Project Work etc.): Where work is submitted up to and
including 7 days late, 5% of the total marks available shall be deducted from the mark achieved.
Where work is submitted up to and including 14 days late, 10% of the total marks available shall be
deducted from the mark achieved. Work submitted 15 days late or more shall be assigned a mark
of zero.
Pass Standard and any Special Requirements for Passing Module: 40%.
End of Year Written Examination Profile: No End of Year Written Examination.
Requirements for Supplemental Examination: Marks in passed element(s) of Continuous
Assessment are carried forward, Failed element(s) of Continuous Assessment must be repeated.
(Submit 1 x 2,500 word essay, as prescribed by the Department).
Page 8 of 28
FL2002 Festival, Belief and Ritual in Folklore
Credit Weighting: 10
Teaching Period(s): Teaching Periods 1 and 2
No. of Students: Min 2, Max 50
Pre-requisite(s): None
Co-requisite(s): None
Teaching Methods: 48 x 1hr(s) Lectures
Module Co-ordinator: Dr. Marie-Annick Desplanques, Roinn An Bhéaloidis
Lecturer(s): Dr. Marie-Annick Desplanques, Roinn An Bhéaloidis
Module Objective: To present and discuss the main social and cultural contexts for ritual festival
and belief in Irish folklore and popular culture. Including ritual, festival and calendar customs and
belief.
Module Content: To develop and explore the idea of popular culture in Ireland/Europe through
key aspects such as ritual (lifecycle, annual cycle) and festival (calendar) and belief (healing
'superstition'). Exploration of passages, celebration and ritual in folklore.
Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
 Identify the 'popular' in culture.
 Link behaviour with key elements of social life.
 Identify rituals in context.
 Site festival in the annual cycle.
 View human life in a social, cultural perspective.
Assessment: Total Marks 200: End of Year Written Examination 150 marks; Continuous
Assessment 50 marks (1 x 2,500 word essay).
Compulsory Elements: End of Year Written Examination; Continuous Assessment.
Penalties (for late submission of Course/Project Work etc.): Where work is submitted up to and
including 7 days late, 5% of the total marks available shall be deducted from the mark achieved.
Where work is submitted up to and including 14 days late, 10% of the total marks available shall be
deducted from the mark achieved. Work submitted 15 days late or more shall be assigned a mark
of zero.
Pass Standard and any Special Requirements for Passing Module: 40%.
End of Year Written Examination Profile: 1 x 3 hr(s) paper(s).
Requirements for Supplemental Examination: 1 x 3 hr(s) paper(s) to be taken in Autumn. Marks
in passed element(s) of Continuous Assessment are carried forward, Failed element(s) of
Continuous Assessment must be repeated (Submit 1 x 2,500 word essay, as prescribed by the
Department).
Page 9 of 28
FL2004 Folklore and Gender
Credit Weighting: 5
Teaching Period(s): Teaching Period 2
No. of Students: Min 2, Max 50
Pre-requisite(s): None
Co-requisite(s): None
Teaching Methods: 24 x 1hr(s) Lectures.
Module Co-ordinator: Dr Stiofán Ó Cadhla, Roinn An Bhéaloidis.
Lecturer(s): Dr. Marie-Annick Desplanques, Roinn An Bhéaloidis.
Module Objective: To introduce the issue of gender in folklore and popular culture. To explore
the expression of gender in people's lives and its use as a category of analysis.
Module Content: The examination of gender representations and the constructed nature of gender
itself in kinship, marriage and family, children's lore and other areas of Folklore and popular
culture.
Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
 Develop an appreciation of the culturally constructed nature of gender.
 Acquire an ability to interpret how worldviews, values and social relations between males and
females are reflected in a variety of oral narratives.
 Discuss the portrayal of females as ritual specialists in traditional times.
 Analyse the portrayal of females in folklore.
 Understand gender systems.
Assessment: Total Marks 100: Continuous Assessment 100 marks (1 x 2,500 word essay).
Compulsory Elements: Continuous Assessment.
Penalties (for late submission of Course/Project Work etc.): Where work is submitted up to and
including 7 days late, 5% of the total marks available shall be deducted from the mark achieved.
Where work is submitted up to and including 14 days late, 10% of the total marks available shall be
deducted from the mark achieved. Work submitted 15 days late or more shall be assigned a mark
of zero.
Pass Standard and any Special Requirements for Passing Module: 40%.
End of Year Written Examination Profile: No End of Year Written Examination.
Requirements for Supplemental Examination: Marks in passed element(s) of Continuous
Assessment are carried forward, Failed element(s) of Continuous Assessment must be repeated
(Submit 1 x 2,500 word essay, as prescribed by the Department).
Page 10 of 28
FL2003 The Archive and Folklore
Credit Weighting: 10
Teaching Period(s): Teaching Periods 1 and 2
No. of Students: Min 2, Max 50
Pre-requisite(s): FL1002, FL1003
Co-requisite(s): None
Teaching Methods: 10 x 2hr(s) Lectures; Other (12hrs Practical Seminars, 10hrs Fieldwork, 6hrs
Presentations).
Module Co-ordinator: Dr Marie-Annick Desplanques, Roinn An Bhéaloidis.
Lecturer(s): Dr. Marie-Annick Desplanques, Roinn An Bhéaloidis.
Module Objective: To introduce and discuss the place of the archive in both the community and
the academy. The emphasis will be on 'folklore' in the archive.
Module Content: Introduction to archival principles and practice in Folklore. The preparation and
execution of a project based on acquired archival experience at the Department's Folklore and
Ethnology Archive and on material from the Cork Northside Folklore Project.
Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
 Understand and articulate the theoretical perspectives and schools of thoughts that informed the
establishment of ethnographic archives.
 Evaluate archival policies, objectives and scopes of ethnographic archives cataloguing systems
and indexes.
 Identify and evaluate the roles of ethnographic archives in community contexts.
 Research the document an ethnographic project through archival sources.
 Identify and evaluate the ethnographic value of an archival document.
Assessment: Total Marks 200: Continuous Assessment 200 marks (1 x 5,000 word Research
Project in three parts worth a total of 175 marks - 75: internet archives evaluation; 50: practical and
archival logbook; 50: archival transcript analysis) and one oral presentation and report (1,000
words recommended) 25 marks.).
Compulsory Elements: Continuous Assessment.
Penalties (for late submission of Course/Project Work etc.): Where work is submitted up to and
including 7 days late, 5% of the total marks available shall be deducted from the mark achieved.
Where work is submitted up to and including 14 days late, 10% of the total marks available shall be
deducted from the mark achieved. Work submitted 15 days late or more shall be assigned a mark
of zero.
Pass Standard and any Special Requirements for Passing Module: 40%.
End of Year Written Examination Profile: No End of Year Written Examination.
Page 11 of 28
Requirements for Supplemental Examination: Marks in passed element(s) of Continuous
Assessment are carried forward, Failed element(s) of Continuous Assessment must be repeated (As
prescribed by the Department).
FL3003 Fieldwork and Folklore
Credit Weighting: 10
Teaching Period(s): Teaching Periods 1 and 2
No. of Students: Min 2, Max 50
Pre-requisite(s): FL2003
Co-requisite(s): None
Teaching Methods: 10 x 2hr(s) Lectures; Other (10 x 2hrs Practical Seminars, 8hrs Fieldwork).
Module Co-ordinator: Dr. Cliona O’Carroll, Roinn An Bhéaloidis.
Lecturer(s): Dr. Cliona O’Carroll, Roinn An Bhéaloidis.
Module Objective: To teach the principles of ethnographic research; to provide students with
ethnographic fieldwork experience. To carry out supervised fieldwork.
Module Content: Advanced training in ethnography and fieldwork methods; preparation of a
project based on original fieldwork research methods, tools, practices of the fieldworker in folklore
and ethnology.
Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
 Design an ethnographic fieldwork project.
 Use sound and visual recording technology.
 Conduct an ethnographic interview.
 Take ethnographic photographs.
 Write and present an ethnographic analysis based on original and ethical fieldwork.
Assessment: Total Marks 200: Continuous Assessment 200 marks (1 x 5,000 word Research
Project in three parts worth a total of 175 marks: 75: Theory; 50: Diary; 50 Ethnographic Material
and one project proposal (1,000 words recommended) 25 marks.).
Compulsory Elements: Continuous Assessment.
Penalties (for late submission of Course/Project Work etc.): Where work is submitted up to and
including 7 days late, 5% of the total marks available shall be deducted from the mark achieved.
Where work is submitted up to and including 14 days late, 10% of the total marks available shall be
deducted from the mark achieved. Work submitted 15 days late or more shall be assigned a mark
of zero.
Pass Standard and any Special Requirements for Passing Module: 40%.
End of Year Written Examination Profile: No End of Year Written Examination.
Page 12 of 28
Requirements for Supplemental Examination: Marks in passed element(s) of Continuous
Assessment are carried forward, Failed element(s) of Continuous Assessment must be repeated (As
prescribed by the Department).
FL2001 Irish Folklore and History
FL2002 Festival, Belief and Ritual in Folklore
FL2003 The Archive and Folklore
FL2004 Folklore and Gender
FL3003 Fieldwork and Folklore
2011-2012 Timetable
CODE
TITLE
LECTURER
TIME
DAY
VENUE
FL2002
Festival, Belief
and Ritual in
Folklore
Dr. Marie-Annick
Desplanques
11:00-13:00
Mon
ELD5_G01
FL2001
Irish Folklore
and History
Jennifer Butler
16:00-18:00
Mon
ORB_203
Term 1
FL2004
Folklore and
Gender
Dr. Marie-Annick
Desplanques
16:00-18:00
Mon
ELD5_G01
Term 2
FL3003
Fieldwork and
Folklore
Dr. Cliona
O’Carroll
13:00-15:00
Thur
ELD5_G01
FL2003
The Archive and
Folklore
Dr. Marie-Annick
Desplanques
15:00-17:00
Thur
ELD5_G01
NB Timetable should be confirmed, please check the Noticeboard on the Ground Floor, No.
5 Elderwood, College Road.
Page 13 of 28
Teaching and Learning
Students’ knowledge and understanding of the above is facilitated through regular illustrated
lectures, assessment feedback, practical workshops (for fieldwork recording and oral
presentations). Field-based projects and dissertations in Year 3 are supervised by individual staff
members. Field trips form an important element of the teaching and learning provision.
Class Work
NB Students must not make substantial use of the same material in more than one piece of written
work, including Class Examinations. Use of internet sources must be verifiable and
referenced fully.
ASSESSMENT
Success in the Department of Folklore and Ethnology is judged on performance in the written work
and final examination according to the marking scheme outlined in Appendix IV. Failure to
submit written work will normally prevent a student from sitting the final examination. Students
are expected to hand in essays by the set dates, unless an extension has been obtained from the
Course Organiser. This will normally only be granted on health grounds upon production of a
Medical Certificate or, in cases of illness lasting less than the 7 days immediately before the
submission deadline. Where an essay is handed in late, and no extension has been granted, 1%
will be deducted for each working day (Monday to Friday inclusive) the essay is overdue
beyond the set date, so that a total of 5% will be deducted if the essay is one week late. If you are
unable to submit work you must immediately contact the Department or provide a Formal
Medical Certificate. This must be submitted by the deadline. Thereafter essays will be
assigned a mark of 0 (zero) which will count towards the student’s overall assessment. Marks will
also be deducted from any essay which does not adhere to the required length or does not
include a proper bibliography or list of sources with references.
Any student encountering problems with aspects of the course or the required written work should
have no hesitation in speaking to the Lecturer, Tutor, or Course Organiser. Students should feel
free to discuss their marks on essays or examination scripts with the appropriate lecturer. Office
hours for staff members will be posted on the front hall notice board and on office doors.
At the end of the year all students are assigned a mark which is an aggregate of the classwork and
Degree Examination marks. The pass mark for the year is 40% (see Appendix IV, Marking
Scheme).
Anonymous marking is in operation.
SUBMISSION OF WORK
During term time we are required to keep students’ work (essays, exam papers etc.) in order that
these are made available to examiners. Therefore, in order to have one copy available to examiners
the student must hand in two copies of each assignment submitted.
NB If during the year you change your address, please inform the General Office
immediately.
Page 14 of 28
Summer Examinations
The dates of the Summer Examination will be made available on the UCC website closer to the
Summer Examinations. On the UCC homepage this page can be accessed under information for
current students.
http://www.ucc.ie/
Past Examination Papers
Past Folklore & Ethnology examination papers can be found on the following website:
http://booleweb.ucc.ie/
Page 15 of 28
ARCHIVAL RESOURCES
Roinn an Bhéaloidis/The Department of Folklore and Ethnology’s Archival facilities include the
The University College Cork Béaloideas/Folklore and Ethnology Archive (UCCFEA) and the Cork
Northside Folklore Project (CNFP). The UCC Folklore and Ethnology Archive is situated at 5
Elderwood, College Road whereas the Cork Northside Folklore Project, which combines a
community archive and a “field station” is located at the Northside Community Enterprises, St.
Finbarr’s College. The two branches are integrated into the Multimedia Centre for Urban and
Regional Ethnology (MCURE) which has actively participated in major research programmes such
as Documents of Ireland with HEA funding.
The University College Cork Béaloideas/Folklore and Ethnology Archive is initially and primarily
a research facility within the department of Folklore and Ethnology. Its holdings consist of
multimedia material arising from the work of both staff and students of An Léann Dúchais/Folklore
together with other relevant material from external depositors. Catalogues and indexes to the
holdings can be consulted at the Archive. The collections, which cover all aspects of rural and
urban folklore, folklife and popular culture are available for consultation on site.
The Cork Northside Folklore Project was founded in partnership with Roinn an
Bhéaloidis/Department of Folklore and Ethnology at University College Cork, Northside
Community Enterprises and FÁS. Since its beginnings in August 1996 researchers at the Project as
well as students and staff of the Department have been at work collecting folklore and oral histories
on a wide array of topics, documenting the everyday lives of the people of Cork. The CNFP
archive contains hundreds of hours of sound and video recordings and over 6000 photographs.
The Project publishes its own annual journal The Archive and has produced a number of videos
which are shown regularly at conferences and in educational contexts. The project completed a
series of ethnographic radio programmes for Cork European Capital of Culture 2005.
The project is opened to the public and to students. It can be contacted through its website
http://www.ucc.ie/research/nfp/
or directly by phoning Mary O’Driscoll, on-site coordinator at 021 4228102.
ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Seminars and Lectures
Students are warmly invited and encouraged to attend events for which notices are posted in 5
Elderwood, College Road. In addition, there are regular Research Seminars organised for all
students. Check noticeboard for details.
Page 16 of 28
Careers Advice
The Folklore and Ethnology courses provide students with a range of transferable skills relevant to
many careers and it is important to think ahead.
On the Careers Service website you can find information on careers, vacation work, graduate jobs,
postgraduate study, working or studying abroad and information on CVs/Application
Forms/Interviews etc. The website at http://www.ucc.ie/services/careers/ gives full details of all
the services available. To contact the careers office phone: 021 4902349 or email: careers@ucc.ie.
Cork Northside Folklore Project
Students are welcome to contribute to the Cork Northside Folklore Project located in the Northside
Community Enterprises, St. Finbarr’s College, Farranferris, Redemption Road, Cork.
Student Employment Service
The students union service may help students find suitable part-time work and to advise on their
rights and other matters relating to the mix of work and study.
Please contact the students union building located on College Road.
Tel: 021 4902953
For further informative information for International Students, please visit:
http://www.ucc.ie/en/international/
Page 17 of 28
Appendix I
The following are some of the locations where students have use of campus computers
Opening Hours:
In Term
Opening Hours:
Out of Term
Boole Basement,
near lecture theatre
M-F: 08:30 - 22:30
S-S: 09:00 - 21:00
M-F: 08:30 - 22:30
S-S: 09:00 - 18:00
Y
Block A, 4th Floor
Food Science Building
M-F: 08:30 - 18:00
S-S: Closed
M-F: 09:00 - 18:00
S-S: Closed
Y
Kane Building
3rd Floor
M-F: 08:30 - 19:00
S-S: Closed
M-F: 09:00 - 18:00
S-S: Closed
Y
Áras na Mac Léinn
3rd Floor
As per opening of
building
As per opening of
building
Áras na Mac Léinn
Café
As per opening of
building
As per opening of
building
Boole Library
Q, Q+1. Q+2, Q+3
As per opening of
building
As per opening of
building
Kampus Kitchen Basement
Kane Building
As per opening of
building
M-S: Closed
Old Pres
Connolly Building
Western Road
M-F: 08:30 - 18:00
S-S: Closed
M-S: Closed
Enterprise Centre
Unit 23
As per opening of
building
As per opening of
building
Mercy Hospital
As per opening of
building
As per opening of
building
M-F: 09:00 - 17:00
S-S: Closed
M-F: 09:00 - 17:00
S-S: Closed
Brookfield Health Sciences Café
As per opening of
building
As per opening of
building
Victoria Lodge Coffee Shop
As per opening of
building
As per opening of
building
Cork University Hospital
As per opening of
building
As per opening of
building
Location
Brookfield Health Sciences Library
For further information regarding location of computers for student use on campus, visit the
following link: http://www.ucc.ie/en/sit/about/open/
Page 18 of 28
Campus Map
Page 19 of 28
Appendix II
WRITTEN WORK
Essays, Projects, Dissertations & Other Written Assignments (Apart from Questionnaires)
should be Typed on a Word Processor.
Layout
The cover page must state your student number, course, year of study, name of lecturer, date of
submission and the title of the essay topic chosen.
Please note that TWO Copies of all written work, should be submitted, and that the Student’s
Number, NOT Name, must be clearly stated on the cover of all work submitted for assessment.
One copy (with a copy of the completed evaluation form) will be retained in the General Office for
inspection by the External Examiner.
Introduction
The introduction should define your topic, what you hope to demonstrate by it, the types of
evidence you will be using, related studies you will be referring to and any special terms or
techniques (e.g. transcription or translation) involved. The introduction should be separate in a
project or dissertation.
Main Body of the Work
You should make sure that there is a clear argument, or if you are writing a purely descriptive piece
at least a clearly defined theme, running throughout your piece. If you have a point of your own
which you think is worth making, but does not contribute to your main argument, put it in a
footnote or an appendix. Try out important sentences on a friend.
Conclusion
The piece should build up to a conclusion in which you sum up your findings and which gives a
clear answer to the question you set out to answer in the introduction.
Plagiarism
Students are asked to familiarise themselves with the University’s policy on plagiarism. Additional
information may be found in Appendix VI of this booklet. Please remember that copying someone
else’s material from the internet and representing it as your own is straightforward plagiarism and
will be dealt with as such.
References and Quotations
Include quotations and references to other work within your text only if they are relevant to your
main theme/argument. When you do use someone else’s writing to support or illustrate an
important point in your own argument the source should be acknowledged by a reference.
Titles
Italicise the titles of books, plays, long poems published as books, pamphlets, periodicals
(newspapers, magazines and journals)
Quotations and Quotation Marks
Single quotation marks should be used to enclose short (less than 40 words of prose or two
complete lines of verse) quotations within the body of your text. If two lines of verse are
quoted the line division should always be marked with an oblique stroke (/).
e.g. ‘You taught me language and my profit on’t/Is, I know how to curse.
Enclose within ‘single’ quotation marks, and do NOT italicise the titles of articles, essays,
short stories, short poems, songs, chapters of books, unpublished works (lectures, speeches
and dissertations).
Page 20 of 28
“Double” quotation marks should be used if the source you are citing itself includes a
quotation or a reference to another short text.
Long Quotations (more than 40 words of prose or 2 lines of verse) should be indented from
the main text with a blank line proceeding and following. Do not use quotation marks
around text set out in this way.
e.g. Prose – if you leave out some of the words of the passage indicate this by …
[oroonoko] was pretty tall, but of a shape the most exact that can be fancied. The
most famous statuary could not form the fugure of a man more admirably turned from
head to foot … The whole proportion and air of his face was so noble and exactly
formed that, bating his color, there could be nothing in nature more beautiful,
agreeable, and handsome.
Verse – always keep to the line layout of the verse
Then think, my dear, that you in me do read
Of lover’s ruin some sad tragedy.
I am not I; pity the tale of me.
Notes and References
References should appear in the body of your text within parentheses ( ) in the format
(Author’s Surname, Date: Page Numbers). If you incorporate the author’s name in the
sentence you need only cite the Date and Page in parentheses.
e.g. Grant (1961: 247-9) speaks of traveller crafts largely from personal experience.
These tinker made spoons are very crude…, but I have often wondered if it was the
tinkers, the cairdean [sic], who made the beautiful powder horns of the seventeenth
century with their interlaced patterns and spirited hunting scenes. (Grant 1961: 248)
[sic] is used to indicate that you realise the information in the original reference is incorrect.
In this case, that you realise that the Gaelic word is mis-spelt and should be “ceárdan”.
Words in languages other than the language of the piece should always be italicised.
Notes may be inserted in the form of footnotes or endnotes.
Bibliography
All essays should include a bibliography. The list of works cited shows the source of quotations
and ideas and it allows you to list all the works you have read when preparing the essay but from
which you have not quoted directly. The bibliography should follow the conclusion of your essay
or dissertation, and should come before any appendices and be divided into two sections – primary
sources and secondary sources.
Primary sources are the subject matter of the essay, usually a text or group of texts. Secondary
sources are the critical works about the subject matter.
Within each section your references should be listed alphabetically by author, and then by date
within authors. There are different forms for books and articles (see examples below). You will
need to include the author’s initial if you are quoting two people with the same surname, or give
two surnames for joint authors. For references to books you will also need to include the place of
publication and the publisher. Neither place, nor publisher, is required for references to journals.
Titles of books and journals should be italicised or, if you are hand writing your piece, underlined.
A book by a single author:
Author, Title, Place of Publication: Publisher, Date of Publication.
Dégh, Linda, Folktales and Society: Storytelling in a Hungarian Peasan Community, Bloomington:
Indiana University Press, 1965.
Page 21 of 28
An article in a periodical:
Author, ‘Title of Article’, Title of Journal, Volume Number (Date): Page Numbers.
Fenton, A., ‘Phases of Ethnology in Britain with Special Reference to Scotland’, Ethnologia
Europae, Vol. 20, No. 2 (1990): 177-188.
A work in an anthology or compilation:
Author, Title of Text, Title of Anthology/Compilation, Editor(s), Place of Publication: Publisher,
Date of Publication, Page Numbers.
Donne, John, ‘Death be not proud’, The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Ed. M.H. Abrams,
et al. New York and London: W. W. Norton, 1986, Vol. 1, 1099.
Oliphant, Margaret, ‘The Library Window’, The Other Voice: Scottish Women’s Writing Since
1808, Ed. Moira Burgess, Edinburgh: Polygon, 1987, 51-92
An edition:
Author, Title, Editor, Place of Publication: Publisher, Date of Publication.
Chaucer, Geoffrey, The Riverside Chaucer, Ed. Larry D. Benson, Oxford: Oxford UP, 1988.
Punctuation
The usual convention is to write words in full e.g. “they are” and “do not” rather than “they’re” and
“don’t”, unless you are transcribing spoken words. Remember that “its” has no apostrophe when it
means “of it”, but does have an apostrophe when it means “it is”. Use appropriate commas to break
up long sentences, but finish the sentence with a full stop. Aim to spell correctly. We will accept
either British or American spellings, but make sure you are consistent in whichever system you use.
Writing Style
Do not aim to write in an elaborately formal or academic style, or only use abstruse technical terms
where ordinary words will do.
The following books are available from the Boole library to aid students to write academic
essays:
How to Write Critical Essays: A Guide for Students of Literature, D. B. Pirie (808 PIRI),
How to write Essays, J. Clanchy (808 CLAN),
The MLA Style Manual, W. S. Achtert & J. Gibaldi (808ACHT).
Page 22 of 28
OTHER MEDIA
Even in an essay you may wish to quote a lecture you have heard or refer to a video or museum
display you have seen. Normally a simple description will do — “the lecturer said that…but I feel
that really…”, or “In the waulking song video we saw…”
If you have consulted material via the Internet give the title and website address in your
bibliography.
For projects and dissertations you are encouraged to use sound-recordings (from the Archives or
made by yourself), photographs (new or old) and unpublished sources of all sorts as much as
possible. For ways in which to find them, and how to use them (e.g. whether to transcribe or
summarise recordings) classes at the beginning of Year 2 will give you detailed advice, and for the
purposes of your particular project you should consult your project adviser.
If possible, you should also include some comparisons with printed studies on similar themes.
Many of your references will be to different types of source. Photographs, maps and drawings
should be clearly captioned with details of their subject and source, and numbered for a separate
contents list. Recordings, photographs and manuscripts from our Archives and student projects
from earlier years are numbered according to our standard practice, but you will have to provide
your own references for your own recordings unless you have already given them to the Archive
Manager for numbering. Make sure names or numbers on the tape boxes correspond to those in the
text. A separate bibliography or bibliographies should be made for non-printed materials, and your
method of dealing with them should be outlined in your introduction.
Projects, dissertations and associated materials are kept and added to the Archives.
Page 23 of 28
APPENDIX III
Department of Folklore and Ethnology
Written Work Evaluation Form
STUDENT’S NAME: ________________________
LECTURER’S NAME: ___________________________
COURSE:
CENTRE:
________________________
___________________________
ASSIGNMENT TITLE:
______________________________________________________________________
DATE SUBMITTED:
______________________________________________________________________
STRUCTURE / PRESENTATION:
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
CONTENT:
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
ANALYSIS:
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
RESEARCH:
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
GENERAL COMMENTS:
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
STRENGTHS:
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
WEAKNESSES:
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
MARK:
LECTURER’S SIGNATURE: _________________________________
Page 24 of 28
Appendix IV
ASSIGNMENT CHECKLIST
(for student use)
This appendix contains a Checklist for students to use when completing class work assignments.
Think carefully about the following objectives as you work on your assignment and as you
complete it. These will be taken into account in assessment (see Written Work Assessment Form 
Appendix III).
Cover Details
Have I completed my title/cover page with:
my examination number?
course title and year?
assignment title?
Introduction
Have I stated my aim clearly?
shown that I understand the question / topic?
defined any relevant terms or approaches?
Main Text
Have I presented my ideas clearly and logically?
provided examples or evidence to support the points I have made?
given accurate quotations, references and captions?
divided my writing into sections with headings and sub-headings for clarity if
appropriate?
Conclusion
Have I gathered my main points together?
tied my conclusion to my original aim?
expressed myself clearly?
Overall Style and Presentation
Have I checked my spelling, grammar and punctuation carefully?
run the spellchecker?
adhered to the word-limit set?
provided a bibliography of the works I have read and referred to in the text?
aimed for clarity of expression and presentation?
Page 25 of 28
Appendix V
MARKING SCHEME
All essays, projects, dissertations, Class Examinations and Degree Examinations will be graded
according to the following scheme:
National University of Ireland
REVISED MARKS BANDS
1st CLASS HONOURS
90 – 100%
80 – 89%
70 – 79%
2nd CLASS HONOURS (Grade 1)
60 – 69%
2nd CLASS HONOURS (Grade 2)
50 – 59%
3rd CLASS HONOURS (where awarded)
45 – 49%
PASS
40 – 49%
PASS (where 3rd Class Hons Awarded)
40 – 44%
PASS by Compensation
30 – 39%
Extended Grade Descriptions:
70%+ A Excellent An outstanding effort, showing originality and clarity of thought and expression.
The topic is well understood and the stated aims are fulfilled through the use of appropriate
examples and arguments. In content and presentation the work conforms well to the standards
set out in the Assignment Checklist in the Class Book.
60–69% B Very Good A commendable effort, demonstrating understanding of the subject and a capacity
to deal adequately and appropriately with relevant material. Overall, the argument is sound, and
the presentation largely conforms to the standards outlined in the Assignment Checklist.
50–59% C Good An acceptable effort with no major weaknesses. There may be insufficient detail to back
up arguments and some inaccuracy. The presentation and / or content falls short of complete
adherence to the Assignment Checklist.
40–49% D Satisfactory A satisfactory effort, but weak in the handling of material and arguments. Aims
are not sufficiently set out or, where set out, insufficiently fulfilled. Content and / or
presentation shows limitations.
30–39% E Marginal A less than satisfactory effort with inaccuracies in content and weaknesses in
presentation. Inadequate fulfilment of the standards in the Assignment Checklist.
Page 26 of 28
Appendix VI
PLAGIARISM STATEMENT
Students should note the University’s policy on plagiarism:
Plagiarism is the use of material taken from another writer’s work without proper
acknowledgement, presenting it as if it were your own. While it is perfectly proper in academic
study to make use of another person’s ideas, to do so under the pretence that they are your own is
deceitful. Plagiarism, whether in is always taken extremely seriously within the University as it is a
form of cheating. Work found to be plagiarised may be penalised, assessed at zero, or not
accepted, and in serious cases may lead to disciplinary action being initiated.
While deliberate plagiarism involves an intention to deceive and is easy to avoid, it is possible to
fall unawares into practices which could be mistaken for plagiarism if you are not familiar with the
proper means of using and acknowledging material from other writers. Inadequate referencing and
inappropriate use of others’ material could inadvertently lay you open to charges of plagiarism.
Since different subjects involve different uses of material, and may have different conventions
about how it should be acknowledged, it is important that in each of their subjects students consult
departmental guidelines about the purpose and presentation of written work in that discipline.
Léann Dúchais and Folklore students should study and put into practice in all their written work the
guidelines given in this book in Appendix II (Style Sheet) and Appendix IV (Assignment
Checklist).
Page 27 of 28