Academic
Susan Motherway is an ethnomusicologist with special interests in the areas of Irish traditional music, folk theatre, music and identity, technology and music creativity, and cultural sustainability. Her PhD research "Mediating the Divide, The Globalisation of Irish Traditional Song Performance" provides a wide analysis of the music genre and documents evidence of change within the tradition in response to globalisation. This work was published by Ashgate Publications.
Susan recently co-edited a volume of papers with Prof. John O'Connell entitled "Staged Folklore, The National Folk Theatre of Ireland 1968-1998" which was published by Cork University Press in 2023. The work was developed from a colloquium held at the Folk Theatre to celebrate the theatre's 50th season of performances. It documents the development of the folk theatre and honours the work of its founder and artistic director Pat Ahern. The Arts Council of Ireland awarded this project a Deis Award. Order a copy now!
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​Susan is currently leading an applied ethnomusicology project in North Kerry, which is attempting to revive and sustain the traditions of North Kerry at Teach Siamsa Finuge with respect to performance, archiving, community engagement and biodiversity. Please see their Facebook and Instagram accounts to see current developments.
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Susan was a founding member of ICTM Ireland and is acting as symposium convenor for the 20th-anniversary celebrations of the society at the Rory Gallagher Theatre in November 2025. She is the recipient of many scholarships, including the UCC Undergraduate Scholarship and the ICUF Riverdance Award. She previously received the title of 'Visiting Research Associate' from Queens University Belfast. Susan has been invited to give seminars at major universities in Ireland. Her most recent invitation was to present a paper at a symposium on the theme of Music for Stage and Screen which was held to celebrate 20 years of the Society for Musicology in Ireland which was held at the Wexford Opera House. She also writes programme notes for Music Network touring traditional music ensembles.
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