Researcher Details |

Una Mccabe

Dr.

Contact Details

F131

T:Ext. 9013

E:Una.McCabe@dcu.ie

F131
T:Ext. 9013

E:Una.McCabe@dcu.ie

Dr Una McCabe is Head of the School of Arts Education and Movement at DCU Institute of Education. She lectures in drama education on undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and is Programme Chair of the Masters in Arts Education Practice. Her research focuses on the potential of drama and the arts as catalysts for learning and development and she has supervised doctoral students to completion in this area. She takes a praxis oriented approach to her research and her national and international publications, presentations and projects are in the areas of drama pedagogy, sociodramatic play training, early years drama, play frameworks, interactions in arts rich classrooms, youth theatre, arts based research methods, creativity and education, and arts curricula.

Una was awarded a DCU Institute of Education Research Fellowship in 2019. She is a member of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment Primary Arts Education Development Group; the European Network of Observatories in Arts and Cultural Education; DCU's Civic Engagement Committee; and the (National) Arts and Culture in Education Research Repository committee. She is the Thematic Coordinator for Arts and Social Inclusion in Education for the Educational Disadvantage Centre at DCU and in this role is currently leading commissioned research on the poverty and inclusion aspects of the work of the national arts organisation Fighting Words. She sits on the editorial board of NJ: Drama Australia.

Una holds a degree in Drama Studies, and a H.Dip.Ed., from Trinity College Dublin. She also completed an M.A. at the National College of Art and Design entitled 'Artists, the Arts and Early Childhood Education' and a Phd at University College Cork. Her doctoral research investigated drama as a method of sociodramatic play training. Previous roles include Drama Lecturer in St Patrick's College; Lecturer in Drama and in Early Childhood Education at DKIT; Drama lecturer at the Froebel College of Education (1998-2007) as well as a variety of national and international roles as a teacher, arts education practitioner, leader and evaluator. Current Doctoral Students: Dave Flynn; Fiona Giblin; Jackie Lysaght.

Book

	Year	Publication
	2017	McCabe, U. (2017) Classroom Drama A Practical Guide (UK Edition). Sussex, United Kingdom: Intrtinsic Books.
	2007	McCabe, U. (2007) Classroom Drama A Practical Guide (1st Edition). Dublin: Ireland: C J Fallon.

Book Chapter

	Year	Publication
	2020	McCabe, U. (2020) 'The role of drama in role-play' In: A Vygotskian Analysis of Children's Play Behaviours: Beyond the Home Corner. [Link]
	2025	McCabe, U.; Flannery, M. (2025) '(In Press) TRAIL: Navigating Multiple Identities of Teacher/Researcher/Artist/Leadership in Academia' In: Conceptualising the Academic Self. West Yorkshire : Emerald.
	2025	Epko, V.; Carter, M.; Flannery, M.; Hinnkala, J.; McCabe, U. (2025) '(In Press) Defining, redefining and de-defining self: Teacher educators reimagining embodied, inclusive, and relational teaching through arts-based educational research' In: Handbook of Arts Based Educational Research. London : Bloomsbury.

Peer Reviewed Journal

	Year	Publication
	2024	Byrne, R., Murphy, R., Ward F., McCabe, U (2024) 'Byrne, R., Murphy, R., Ward F., McCabe, U. (2024) Towards a model of playful music learning for primary classrooms: recommendations based on a review of literature. British Journal of Music Education'. British Journal of Music Education, . [DOI]
	2024	(2024) 'Playful (music) teaching and learning in Irish primary school classrooms'. Irish Educational Studies, 1 (21). https://doi.org/10.1080/03323315.2024.2330886
	2024	McCabe, Una; Flannery, Michael (2024) 'Wellbeing and the arts in Irish primary teacher education: aligned or apart? A policy and self-study perspective'. European Journal of Teacher Education, 47 (3). [DOI]
	2023	McCabe, U. (2023) 'Humour, drama education, and drama curriculum in Ireland'. Research in Drama Education, 28 . [Link] [DOI]
	2022	Murphy, R.; Ward, F.; McCabe, U.; Flannery, M.; Cleary, A.; Hsu, H.P.; Brennan, E. (2022) 'Recasting embodied and relational teaching in the arts: teacher educators reflect on the potential of digital learning'. Irish Educational Studies, 41 . [Link] [DOI]
	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]
	2017	McCabe, Una (2017) 'The Drama in Sociodramatic Play: Implications for Curriculum and Pedagogy'. NJ-Drama Australia Journal, 41 (1). [Link] http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14452294.2017.1329689
	2013	McCabe, U. (2013) 'Learning to Play through Drama'. An Leanbh Óg: OMEP Ireland journal of early childhood studies, 7 .

Book Review

	Year	Publication
	2015	(2015) And the band played on. [Link]

Published Report

	Year	Publication
	2004	Una McCabe (2004) MUS-E Ireland 2001-2004 Research Report Final Recommendations of a joint action research project in co-operation witht the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaion. Froebel College of Education, . [Link]
	2002	McCabe, U. (2002) The impact of art on prevention of violence and racism at school. International Yehudi Menuhin Foundation, .

Conference Contribution

	Year	Publication
	2024	McCabe, Una (2024) International Drama Education Conference Global Forum for Sharing of Outstanding Papers and Practice Cases'Social Health, Arts and Personal Education for Older Citizens through Drama Beijing, China, .
	2022	McCabe, U. (2022) International Drama Education Association Conference Drama 4All Tall and Small University of Iceland Drama, the Arts, and Wellbeing in Irish primary teacher education: Aligned or apart? A policy and self-study perspective Reykjavik, .
	2022	McCabe, U.; Murphy; R. Ward, F.; Cleary, A; Brennan, E (2022) Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI) Conference 2022 A Matter of Presence in Higher Education Classrooms: Virtual and In Person Marino College Dublin, .
	2019	McCabe, U. and Farrell, T. (2019) EECERA Conference 2019 Early Years Making It Count Conceptualising Power in Play Pedagogy Thessaloniki Greece, .
	2018	McCabe, Una and Farrell, Thérèse (2018) British Educational Research Association Conference Play, Pedagogy and Power Northumbria University< UK, .
	2016	McCabe, U. (2016) European Early Childhood Education Research Association Conference The Drama in Sociodramatic Play Dublin City University, .
	2015	McCabe, U. (2015) Internation Drama in Education Research Institute Aesthetic and Affective Learning in Teacher Education: Challenging Agendas Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, .
	2013	McCabe, U. (2013) Borders and Translations International Drama in Education Research Institute Playing Drama: Drama as a method of socio-dramatic play training Limerick, .
	2012	McCabe, U. (2012) Association for Drama in Education Ireland Workshop Drama in the Early Years Marino College Dublin, .
	2011	McCabe, U. (2011) Reimagining Initial Teacher Education: Perspectives on Transformation From Student Teacher to Playful Practitioner Dublin Ireland, .
	2011	Murphy, P; Heffernan, C.; McCabe, U. (2011) Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI) Spring Conference Partnership and process: Learning to teach drama in context Church of Ireland College of Education, Dublin, 05/04/2011-11/04/2011.
	2010	McCabe, U. (2010) International Drama in Education Conference Play, Drama and Positive Worlds Belem: Brazil, .
	2009	McCabe, U. (2009) Invited Panel Discussion member, Baboró Children’s Theatre Festival Conference. Galway, Ireland Conference Conference, .
	2007	McCabe, U. (2007) Joint Austrian-Czech Drama Network: Promoting Tolerance and Mutual Understanding Through Drama Workshop: History and Drama Szombathely, Hungary, .
	2006	McCabe, U. (2006) Taking Froebel Forward’ Conference at Froebel College, Dublin MUS-E: Implementation and findings of a European Arts Education Programme in Ireland Poster Presentation at ‘From Play to Work Dublin, .
	2005	McCabe, U. (2005) Paper Presented at ‘Art in Early Childhood: Creating, Communicating, Collaborating’ Conference at Roehampton University, Surrey, UK Implementing an Early Learning through the Arts Programme London, .
	2004	McCabe, U. (2004) Paper Presented to MUS-E International Co-coordinating Committee Meeting Brussells, Belgium MUS-E in the Irish Context Belgium, .
	2003	McCabe, U., & Carey, D. (2003) Paper Presented at Irish Pre School and Play Group Association Conference, Malahide, Dublin Froebel’s Gifts Dublin, .
	2001	McCabe, U., & Carey, D. (2001) Paper Presented at Educational Association Studies of Ireland Conference The Arts and the Brain Limerick, .

Professional Associations

	Association	Function	From / To
	Association for Drama in Education in Ireland	Committee Member from 2008 to 2015	-
	European Network of Observatories in the Field of Arts and Cultural Education	Member	-

Honors and Awards

Date	Title	Awarding Body
01/03/2020	Anam DCU Arts and Culture Funding	DCU Arts and Culture
01/01/2019	Institute of Education Research Fellowship Award	DCU
01/05/2016	Teaching and Learning Team Award	St Patrick's College
01/09/2006	Atlantic Philanthropies Academic Research Grant	Atlantic Philanthropies
01/03/1999	Arts Council Travel Award	Arts Council

Committees

Committee	Function	From / To
Faculty Workload Review Committee		01/02/2025 - 29/03/2025
Association for Drama Education in Ireland Sub Committee for Curriculum Matters		01/10/2016 -
DCU Civic Engagement Forum		01/10/2022 - 29/03/2025
Faculty Working Group to Support Hybrid Approach to Teaching and Learning		17/06/2020 -
Faculty Research Ethics Committee		30/09/2016 - 01/08/2019
Association of Drama Education in Ireland Executive Committee		01/07/2009 - 01/07/2015
The International MUS-E Council	The council is responsible for the international coordination of MUS-E. This includes promoting and sharing best practices and common tools, plus facilitating international exchange between participating schools and artists. Set up in 2000, the IMC comprises national MUS-E coordinators and Foundation staff who guide the evolution of the programme, developing common areas for collaboration, from training of artists to art education research.	01/09/2002 - 31/08/2004
National Deaf Youth Theatre Executive Committee		01/01/1998 - 30/12/2000
National Association for Youth Drama Executive Committee		11/11/1996 - 11/11/1998

Education

	Start date	Institution	Qualification	Subject
		University College Cork	PhD
		National College of Art and Design	Master of Arts
		Trinity College Dublin	H.Dip. in Ed. (Post grad Diploma in Further and Higher Education)
		Trinity College Dublin	Bachelor of Arts

Languages

	Language	Reading	Writing	Speaking
	Italian	Functional	Functional	Functional

Reviews

	Journal	Role
	International Journal of Early Years Education	Reviewer
	Elsevier	Reviewer
	NJ-Drama Australia Journal	Reviewer
	Educational Studies	Reviewer
	European Journal of Teacher Education	Reviewer

Outreach Activities

Year	Engagement Type	Organisation	Description
2024	Presentations/Talks to an external audience	Michael Apple Symposium/Educational Disadvantage Centre IoE	Invited Talk at The Spatial Turn Interdisciplinary Symposium: Space, Place and Power in Arts Education: Spatial Justice and Social Inclusion
2023	Presentations/Talks to an external audience	University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.	Drama Competencies and Capacities in Ireland: A Changing Landscape Invited Talk to Students and Colleagues at Faculty of Education
2023	Educational Outreach/Public Engagement	Professor Adele Diamond/Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience	Invited participation to represent my work at the global meeting of educators and neuroscientists at the 'Joyous Celebration of Ideas, the Arts, Science, and Efforts to Make the World a Better Place' hosted by Professor Adele Diamond
2023	Community-based learning	Maltese Agency for Community and Therapeutic Services/DCU AFU	Presentation to visiting delegation on the impact of Arts engagement on Older Citizens-Practice Exchange
2023	Presentations/Talks to an external audience	DCU Literacy across the Primary Curriculum Webinar Series	Literacy across the Primary Curriculum Webinar Series
2023	Community-based research	DCU Age Friendly University	SHAPE-Social Health Arts and Personal Education project
2022	Advisory Work	National Council for Curriculum and Assessment	Contributing to the curriculum and development work of the NCCA in the area of Primary Arts Education (Art, Drama, Music). Ongoing from 2022.
2020	Presentations/Talks to an external audience	Association of Drama Education Ireland	Drama and Narrative thinking workshop
2020	Community-based research	Fighting Words and Gracepark Educate Together National School	Drama and Story in the Early Years
2020	Presentations/Talks to an external audience	DCU Research Conversations with the IoE Fellowship awardees	Drama, Play and Pedagogy in the Early Years: A Research Journey
2015	Educational Outreach/Public Engagement	St Patricks BNS Conflict Issues Devised Theatre Project	Drama Education Outreach-Conflict Issues Devised Theatre Project
2013	Presentations/Talks to an external audience	Association of Drama Education Ireland	Drama in the Early Years
2013	Community-based learning	St Patrick's BNS; Corpus Christi GNS; Gracepark ETNS; Glasnevin ETNS.	Curricular inclusion of Drama Outreach to Schools local to Campus annually in my Drama and Early Childhood Education module, focussed on co-teaching opportunities with me and their peers. Annually since 2013.
2012	Advisory Work	St Mary's JNS Clondalkin	Drama Curriculum Staff Inservice Training
2010	Presentations/Talks to an external audience	National College of Ireland/Early Learning Initiative	St Patrick's College Early Learning Initiative
2010	Community-based learning	Drumcondra National School	Jimmy the Fish-Theatre in Education and Workshop on Climate Issues for local school
2009	Community-based research	Central Model Infant School	Improving Early Years Drama through Play Pedagogy
2009	Presentations/Talks to an external audience	Austrian-Czech Drama Network	Workshop Presentation on Integrating Drama and History
2009	Community-based research	Rutland Street Preschool	Drama and Play Research
2009	Presentations/Talks to an external audience	Baboró International Arts Festival for Children	Invited Panel Discussion Leader-Natural Born Artists/The Creative Teacher

Media

	Title	Year	Type	Authors
	Morning Ireland RTE Radio	2007	Radio Interviews	McCabe, U.

Research Interests

Drama and pedagogy; Sociodramatic Play; Interactions in Arts Rich Classrooms; Arts-Based Methods; Creativity and Education; Play based Education

Research Projects

Title	Role	Start date	End date
Equitable Inclusive Systems and Arts Education Framework Applied to Creative Writing in Contexts of Poverty	DCU Co-PI	19/11/2024	18/03/2025
Creative Schools Evaluation	Researcher	01/09/2019	01/06/2023
Children's Engagment in Sociodramatic Play in Disadvantaged Education Settings	PI	01/08/2008	30/06/2010
MUS-E Ireland An Evaluation of the Implementation of a Three Year Artists in Schools Intervention	PI	01/09/2001	31/08/2004
Drama in the Classroom	PI	01/01/2006	30/06/2207

Current Postgraduate Students

	Student Name	Degree	Supervision
	Tyrrell ,Hillary	Master of Arts	Supervisor

Teaching Interests

Drama, Play, Arts Education

Modules Coordinated

Term	Title	Subject
2025	Drama and Early Childhood Education	EDP1009
2024	Drama	EDP1057(10411)
2018-2024	Drama and Early Childhood Education	AP304
2023	Learning through the Arts and Movement	ED8036
2022	Learning through the Arts and Movement	ED8036
2021	Drama and Physical Education	ED1015
2020	Drama and Physical Education	ED1015
2019	Leadership in Drama Education	AP404
2019	Play and Learning 2	EC203
2023		AP404
2023		AP304
2022		ED8036
2023		ED1015