CORA
Cork Open Research Archive (CORA) is UCC’s Open Access institutional repository which enables UCC researchers to make their research outputs freely available and accessible.
UCC Research Communities
Recent Submissions
Maras Y Pandillas: Límites De Su Transnacionalidad
(2007-09-01) Santamaria, Gema Kloppe-
In this article, Gema Santamaría discusses the issue of gangs, a complex phenomenon that has attracted a great deal of public attention lately. According to the author, gangs of young Central Americans —belonging to groups like Mara Salvatrucha and Barrio 18— are considered criminal organizations with a vertical structure and the ability to coordinate a variety of criminal activities across borders. These gangs are viewed as a threat to Mexico’s security and countries north of Central America, but in reality their international influence is limited to the imitation of identifying marks and violent behavior that are of a cultural, symbolic nature. Central American countries have tried to deal with the problem by implementing “hardline” or so-called “zero tolerance” policies, punishing young people for merely belonging or appearing to belong to gangs, even when they have committed no crime, an approach that has only served to aggravate matters. In the case of Mexico, the author points out that the presence of gangs is limited, that they tend to be less organized and less violent, and that they are not necessarily involved in criminal activities, while their links to organized crime are not altogether clear. Although there is no denying the influence of Central American immigrants passing through Mexico en route to the United States, the problem here is confined to local gangs with social connections (family, schools, work, etc.), whose links with Central American gangs are limited to the symbolic use of certain tattoos, clothes, graffiti and body language, among other identifying traits.
Theorising gambling self-exclusion agreements: the inadequacy of procedural autonomy
(Cambridge University Press, 2023-01-31) Long, Bernard
Gambling self-exclusion agreements enable a person to have themselves prevented from gambling for some future period. In light of evidence of their effectiveness in helping problem gamblers manage their addiction, these agreements enjoy growing popularity. In particular, several jurisdictions now oblige gambling operators to offer self-exclusion to their clientele. If self-exclusion has a unique value that is distinct from paternalistic measures, such as forced exclusion, it is surely because it prizes the gambler's autonomy. In this article, however, I will argue that self-exclusion's theoretical basis cannot, in fact, be found in a procedural theory of autonomy that only regards agents' own values and decisions. Rather, I will contend that if agents may bind their future selves in only some ways - for example, by preventing themselves from gambling but not preventing themselves from self-excluding or selling themselves into slavery - it can only be because of a normative, substantive claim.
Peter Lombard: historian and orator
(University College Cork, 2026-06-30) Madden, Margaret; Harris, Jason; Irish Research Council
This thesis presents a philological and stylistic analysis of Peter Lombard's De Hibernia Insula Commentarius Stromaticus, a petition addressed to Pope Clement VIII in 1600/1601 on behalf of Hugh O'Neill. The Commentarius was written in order to seek support for the conflict that was then raging in Ireland which Lombard expressed as a war of religion. While several influential studies of the historical context of this work have previously been undertaken, they were based on unreliable editions of the text and paid scant attention to the language, genre and style of the work. As a prolegomenon to further research, this thesis offers an examination of the manuscript tradition and what it reveals about the composition of the treatise. Two distinct recensions of the text are identified, produced within one year of each other by the author himself. Material not contained in either of the two posthumously printed editions has been identified. A critical edition of the text is presented as an appendix to this thesis. The two authorial recensions represent distinct moments in a rapidly evolving political and ecclesiastical context, but the revisions also illuminate the stylistic and compositional preoccupations of Lombard, which must be assessed prior to ascribing political motivation to textual emendations. An examination of the vocabulary, syntax and style of the Commentarius reveals an eclectic writer who, while imbued with Ancient Latin, nevertheless writes pragmatically in a style that is eloquent but eschews elaborate ornamentation. The historical core of the work (the commentarius proper) is sandwiched between a praefatio and a peroratio that reflect the origins of the text as a formal address at the papal court and reveal Lombard in the guise of an orator presenting a humble petition to the pope. By contrast, the central portion of the text is written in a style and form that artfully masquerades as artlessness, presenting the ethos of the author, not as a rhetorical historian, but as a reliable witness to the truth. The care that Lombard took to create this effect is demonstrated through close examination of the text, as are the occasions upon which the mask slips. The thesis therefore offers a foundation for subsequent historical investigations and demonstrates the value of detailed stylistic analysis of Neo-Latin texts that appear, at first sight, to have been rather casually or hastily composed.
An exploration of nursing home staff perceptions of the impact of infection prevention and control champions in Ireland: A descriptive qualitative study
(SAGE Publications Ltd, 2026-08-27) Byrne, Richard; Smiddy, Maura
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for robust Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) policies and for the workforce of long-term residential care facilities (LTRCFs) to be educated and trained in IPC with support from specialists with IPC knowledge and advice. IPC champions are often put in place within LTRCFs to provide education and guidance. The aim of this study was to explore how the impact of trained IPC champions (or leads) was perceived by staff in the long-term residential care settings. Methods: Purposive sampling was conducted to recruit participants from three LTRCFs located in the East of Ireland. Semi-structured interviews were conducted amongst six participants which were then transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Four themes were identified via codes and sub-themes: (1) IPC Core Knowledge and Skills, (2) Point of Care Coaching and Support, (3) Practical Enablers of IPC and (4) Audit and Quality Improvement in IPC. Conclusion: The results indicate that IPC champions make a positive impact on IPC practices and procedures in Irish LTRCFs. The identified themes and sub-themes indicate that IPC champions’ roles are multi-faceted, and that they utilise several skills to ensure best IPC practices are carried out in their workplace.
Creative coaching methods in career transition: Exploring reflection and meaning-making through LEGO® Serious Play® and collage
(Oxford Brookes University, 2026-09-29) Supple, Briony
This study explores how creative coaching methods may help support reflection and insight in the context of career transition. Eight participants engaged in a facilitated workshop using LEGO® Serious Play® and collage to explore experiences of career change and uncertainty. These methods enabled engagement with physical and visual materials to support reflection and meaning-making. Data was collected through pre- and post-workshop questionnaires, photographs of creative artefacts, reflective memos and researcher field notes. Findings suggest that creative methods may enable a nuanced exploration of identity, priorities and future directions and support meaning-making and re-interpretation of perspectives pertaining to career options.