Staff profile

I am Historian and Archives Manager for Dublin Cemeteries Trust, where I am Head of the Department of Heritage Education and Genealogy, based at Glasnevin Cemetery. Here, I provide strategic leadership for the educational, research and genealogical elements of the Trust's work, acting as historical advisor to the Board of Trustees and CEO. Much of my work is in the realm of public history as I publish in a variety of magazines and newspapers, appearing on podcasts and radio programmes talking about the history and heritage of the cemetery, know as 'Ireland's Necropolis' or 'Ireland's National Cemetery'.Between February and April 2025, I conducted a survey on behalf of the Association of Leaders of Missionaries and Religious in Ireland, examining the archive contents and conditions for religious congregations with the recommendation of them coming together to establish and manage a shared archive as many are coming to completion or struggling to sustain their archives for a variety of reasons. It can be read here

I am also an Honorary Fellow at the Centre for Catholic Studies, based at the Department of Theology and Religion. Between 2020 and 2024, I was the FMDM Fellow in the History of Catholicism. Here, I was researching and writing the history of the Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood through the prism of the Franciscan tradition and global Catholicism. Taking an interdisciplinary approach, it explores the Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood and its nineteenth century antecedents through the various prisms of Catholic internationalism, social movements, philanthropy, medical and sacred spaces and how their evolution and change impacted upon individual and community lives while remaining faithful to its Franciscan missionary approach. It also assesses its history within the wider context of local, national and transnational expressions of Catholicism; particularly during periods of significant changes and challenges for the Roman Catholic Church. This research includes material from nearly forty archives in ten different countries. This proposed monograph is forthcoming in 2026 with an article 'The Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood and the provision of healthcare in provincial Ireland, 1942-1970' published by the Historical Journal and can be accessed here.

Much of my research and publications have been on e dynamics of agrarian radicalism, class relations in the rural countryside, the land question, local, religious and rural history in Britain and Ireland in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.I remain fascinated with the rural countryside during the long nineteenth century, resulting in me currently writing a short book on a landed estate in the northwest of county Donegal, Ireland between the eighteenth and the twentieth centuries. It is a case study of how national and international events had an impact on the social, political and economic life of a medium-sized estate in a very isolated part of Ireland. In addition, I am researching articles on the social services movement and the Catholic Church in twentieth century Ireland and a Catholic emigrant employment agency for Irish people in London during the long 1960s.

Authored book

• Class and Community in Provincial Ireland, 1851–1914
  
  Casey, B. (2018). Class and Community in Provincial Ireland, 1851–1914. Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71120-1

Book review

• Michael Davitt: From the Gaelic American
  
  Casey, B. (2011). Michael Davitt: From the Gaelic American. Irish Economic and Social History, 38, 138-140.
• Lacking the common touch
  
  Casey, B. (2011). Lacking the common touch. Irish Literary Supplement.
• Gypsum Mining and the Shirley Estate in South Monaghan, 1800–1936, Maynooth Studies in Local History 86
  
  Casey, B. (2010). Gypsum Mining and the Shirley Estate in South Monaghan, 1800–1936, Maynooth Studies in Local History 86. Irish Economic and Social History, 37, 181-184.
• The Murder of Major Mahon, Strokestown, County Roscommon, 1847
  
  Casey, B. (2009). The Murder of Major Mahon, Strokestown, County Roscommon, 1847. Irish Economic and Social History, 159-161.
• R.B. MacCarthy, The Diocese of Lismore, 1801-1869
  
  Casey, B. (2009). R.B. MacCarthy, The Diocese of Lismore, 1801-1869. Irish Economic and Social History, 143-144.

Chapter in book

• ‘Catholicism, deference and devotion in early twentieth century Ireland: Some reflections’.
  
  Casey, B. (2022). ‘Catholicism, deference and devotion in early twentieth century Ireland: Some reflections’. In F. Devine & F. M. Bhloscaidh (Eds.), Bread not profits: provincial working class politics during the Irish revolution (pp. 257-273). Umiskin Press.
• The impact of agrarian radicalism on land reform in Scotland and Ireland, 1879–1903
  
  Casey, B. (2020). The impact of agrarian radicalism on land reform in Scotland and Ireland, 1879–1903. In M. Coombe, J. Glass, & A. Tindey (Eds.), Land reform in Scotland: History, law and policy (pp. 56-73). Edinburgh University Press.
• The role of the Roman Catholic and Church of Ireland clergy in the distribution of relief during the 1822 Famine in County Roscommon.
  
  Casey, B. (2018). The role of the Roman Catholic and Church of Ireland clergy in the distribution of relief during the 1822 Famine in County Roscommon. In R. Farrell, K. O’Conor, & M. Potter (Eds.), Roscommon: History and Society (pp. 349-365). Geography Publications.
• Aspects of life in Ireland, 1900–1918
  
  Casey, B. (2018). Aspects of life in Ireland, 1900–1918. In Ballinasloe and district remembers 1914-1918 (pp. 368-376). KPW.
• John Sweetman and the Irish land question, 1876–82
  
  Casey, B. (2016). John Sweetman and the Irish land question, 1876–82. In B. Casey (Ed.), Lords, land and labourers: the Big Houses and landed estates of Royal Meath (pp. 171-186). The History Press.
• Ada English and Cumman na mBan
  
  Casey, B. (2015). Ada English and Cumman na mBan. In Galway and Cumman na mBan: County Galway dimensions (pp. 17-18). Galway County Council.
• The Great Famine, 1845-7
  
  Casey, B. (2015). The Great Famine, 1845-7. In F. Rynne & A. Pole (Eds.), La grande famine en Irlande (pp. 69-80). Atlande.
• Re-organised Ireland: After the Famine
  
  Casey, B. (2015). Re-organised Ireland: After the Famine. In F. Rynne & A. Pole (Eds.), La grande famine en Irlande (pp. 81-92). Atlande.

Edited book

• Lords, land and labourers: The Big Houses and landed estates of Royal Meath
  
  Casey, B. (Ed.). (2016). Lords, land and labourers: The Big Houses and landed estates of Royal Meath. Dublin, The History Press.
• Defying the law of the land: Agrarian radicals in Irish History.
  
  Casey, B. (Ed.). (2013). Defying the law of the land: Agrarian radicals in Irish History. The History Press.

Journal Article

• The Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood and the Provision of Healthcare in Provincial Ireland, 1942–1970
  
  Casey, B. (2025). The Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood and the Provision of Healthcare in Provincial Ireland, 1942–1970. Historical Journal, 68(2), 397-417. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0018246X24000554
• The political career of John Sweetman, 1885–1903
  
  Casey, B. (2017). The political career of John Sweetman, 1885–1903. Riocht Na Midhe: Journal of the Meath Archaeological and Historical Society, 27, Article 269–83.
• Newspapers and Newsmakers: The Dublin Nationalist Press in the Mid-Nineteenth Century. By Ann Andrews. Liverpool University Press. 2014. ix + 286pp. £75.00.
  
  Casey, B. (2016). Newspapers and Newsmakers: The Dublin Nationalist Press in the Mid-Nineteenth Century. By Ann Andrews. Liverpool University Press. 2014. ix + 286pp. £75.00. History, 101(347), 619-621. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-229X.12198
• Constructing Political Consciousness in the West of Ireland, 1876–79: The Case of the Ballinasloe Tenant Defence Association
  
  Casey, B. (2016). Constructing Political Consciousness in the West of Ireland, 1876–79: The Case of the Ballinasloe Tenant Defence Association. New Hibernia Review, 20(1), 55-76. https://doi.org/10.1353/nhr.2016.0011
• The decline and fall of the Clancarty estate, east Galway, 1891–1923
  
  Casey, B. (2016). The decline and fall of the Clancarty estate, east Galway, 1891–1923. Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society, 67, 171-83.
• The Poor Law in Ireland: 1850–1914
  
  Casey, B. (2015). The Poor Law in Ireland: 1850–1914. Irish Studies Review, 236-238. https://doi.org/10.1080/09670882.2015.1015706
• Matt Harris and the Irish Land Question, 1876–1882
  
  Casey, B. (2014). Matt Harris and the Irish Land Question, 1876–1882. Rural History, 25(2), 183-201. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0956793314000053
• Longford History and Society: Interdisciplinary Essays in the History of an Irish County
  
  Casey, B. (2013). Longford History and Society: Interdisciplinary Essays in the History of an Irish County. Irish Economic and Social History, 40, 177-180.
• Agrarian murder and injustice
  
  Casey, B. (2013). Agrarian murder and injustice. Irish Literary Supplement, 33(1), 26-28.
• Selected list of writings on Irish social and economic history published in 2012
  
  Casey, B. (2013). Selected list of writings on Irish social and economic history published in 2012. Irish Economic and Social History., 40(1), 98-113. https://doi.org/10.7227/iesh.40.1.7
• Selected Writings on Irish Economic and Social History Published in 2011
  
  Casey, B. (2012). Selected Writings on Irish Economic and Social History Published in 2011. Irish Economic and Social History, 39(1). https://doi.org/10.7227/IESH.39.1.8
• Riotous assemblies: Rebels, riots and revolts in Ireland by William Sheehan, Maura Cronin
  
  Casey, B. (2012). Riotous assemblies: Rebels, riots and revolts in Ireland by William Sheehan, Maura Cronin. Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society, 64, 189-190.
• The Ivy Leaf: The Parnells Remembered. Commemorative Essays
  
  Casey, B. (2011). The Ivy Leaf: The Parnells Remembered. Commemorative Essays. Irish Economic and Social History, 38, 157-159.
• Michael Davitt: From the Gaelic American by John Devoy, Carla King, W. J. McCormack; Parnell to Pearse: Some Recollections and Reflections by John Joseph Horgan, John Horgan; Words of the Dead Chief: Being Extracts from the Public Speeches and other Pronouncements of Charles Stewart Parnell from the Beginning to the Close of his Memorable Life by Donal McCartney, Pauric Travers, Jennie Wyse-Power
  
  Casey, B. (2011). Michael Davitt: From the Gaelic American by John Devoy, Carla King, W. J. McCormack; Parnell to Pearse: Some Recollections and Reflections by John Joseph Horgan, John Horgan; Words of the Dead Chief: Being Extracts from the Public Speeches and other Pronouncements of Charles Stewart Parnell from the Beginning to the Close of his Memorable Life by Donal McCartney, Pauric Travers, Jennie Wyse-Power. Irish Economic and Social History, 38, 152-154.
• Michael Davitt’s second tour of the Scottish Highlands, April 1887
  
  Casey, B. (n.d.). Michael Davitt’s second tour of the Scottish Highlands, April 1887. History Scotland, 38-45.

Newspaper/Magazine Article

• Pope Francis was an amiable mold breaker in the Vatican
  
  Casey, B. (2025, April 21). Pope Francis was an amiable mold breaker in the Vatican. Jacobin.
• The establishment of Portiuncula Hospital, 1942-1947
  
  Casey, B. (2024, November 7). The establishment of Portiuncula Hospital, 1942-1947. Hostings: Journal of the Ballinasloe and District Heritage Society, 1, 60-64.

Other (Print)

• Matt Harris and the Ballinasloe Tenant Defence Association.
  
  Casey, B. (2013). Matt Harris and the Ballinasloe Tenant Defence Association (B. Casey, Ed.; pp. 90-99). Defying the law of the land: Agrarian radicals in Irish history.