MCAA Avenue

In her second year of her master’s degree program in Irish and Irish-American Studies, Caroline Heafey applied to the 2017 GSAS Threesis Academic Challenge and advanced on to the Final Round of the competition as one of the twelve finalists. Her Threesis presentation, entitled “Penning Punishment: Uncovering Trauma and Narrative Nuance in the Prison Writings of Dorothy Macardle,” highlighted the work of her master’s thesis, which primarily focused on the works of Irish writer Dorothy Macardle and her prison writings from the Irish Civil War. 

“Joyce and Yeats are great,” Caroline explains, “but there are plenty of women writers who are just as good in my opinion. My interest in Macardle and other women writers came from a passion to bring women’s voices the attention they deserve.” Caroline’s research aims to shift the general perception that the best Irish literature was written solely by men. “The reality is that Ireland has a rich literary tradition comprised of both men and women, and it is important that we encounter all of these voices in the classroom and in general reading.” 

At first, Caroline reflected that Threesis helped her crystallize exactly what her research was about. Along the way, participating in Threesis actually taught her how to make her subject engaging and interesting for everyone. “It can be so easy to become wrapped up in specific research, and Threesis is a brilliant way of asking scholars to step outside of their own bubbles, to make their work accessible to scholars in other disciplines.” 

Caroline was recently featured in an event by Tramp Press, an award-winning Dublin independent publisher, at the Irish Arts Center earlier this summer (May 20, 2018). The event, entitled, “Between the Lines: Recovered Voices,” provided a plat form for Ireland’s indie publishers and the important voices they are bringing to the world. Caroline joined Sarah Davis-Goff (pictured above), Maeve Higgins–author, comedian, and columnist, and Sam Underwood–author of Fear the Walking Dead, Fundamental Theatre Company, to discuss why many voices like Macardle’s belong back in the canon. “Lisa Coen and Sarah Davis-Goff at Tramp Press have been instrumental in bringing Macardle’s writings back into the public eye. It was an honor and a privilege to work with them, and to champion women writers who have fallen out of popularity… I am delighted that readers are discovering Dorothy Macardle again, and coming to love her writing as much as I do.” 

As of Fall 2018, Caroline will be pursuing her PhD in English at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she will also be teaching college writing. “I am grateful to Threesis for helping me to work on my presentation and public speaking skills. Threesis is such a great exercise for master’s students to learn how to present information in an accessible way… I feel strongly that it helped prepare me for this next step in my graduate work.” Her one piece of advice for future master’s students applying to the GSAS Threesis Academic Challenge? “Stay natural. Do not worry that your research is too specific; rather, ask yourself why you care so much and then write with clarity and comprehension. People respond to passion and enthusiasm. Keep your momentum and be your brilliant self!” 

Congratulations Caroline on your acceptance to UMass Amherst, we look forward to hearing all about your future successes!

Many thanks to Caroline for joining us on MCAA Avenue and for serving as a valued Threesis Mentor for the 2018 competition.