Careers with Arts

YOUR CAREER WITH
AN ARTS DEGREE
“In 2013 I became the
youngest art gallery
Director in Queensland,
Australia and there
is no doubt that I
would not have gained
a position of such
responsibility so young
without my education.”
Nicola Holly
GALLERY DIRECTOR, STANTHORPE REGIONAL
ART GALLERY, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA
It has been said to me on several occasions by prospective
employers that my education was what impressed them
most on my CV. I completed a BA in English and History of
Art in 2008 in UCC and enjoyed the experience so much
that I remained with the arts faculty to gain a Masters in
Modern and Contemporary Art. I found my lecturers to be
incredibly encouraging and accessible throughout my time
at UCC. I felt they believed in me and constantly inspired
me to push myself with my research. In 2013 I became the
youngest art gallery Director in Queensland, Australia and
there is no doubt that I would not have gained a position
of such responsibility so young without my education.
Working in the arts is dynamic, interesting and thoroughly
entertaining. Although it’s a cliché, no two days are
the same, especially when dealing with artists! I would
encourage anyone interested in the arts to follow their
dreams and take up a humanities degree at UCC.
BA (Hons)
English &
History of Art
Chosen Subjects
English
History of Art
Gallery Director,
Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery,
Queensland, Australia
Masters in
Modern and
Contemporary
Art
JUST ONE OF THE CAREER PATHS YOU CAN TAKE WITH AN ARTS DEGREE

YOUR CAREER WITH
AN ARTS DEGREE
A phrase I first heard
during my freshers
week has stayed with
me throughout my
career, “Everyone else
is trained but Arts
students are educated.”
Cian Moriarty
BA HONS, MA, SOLICITOR
My path to Arts was typical. I left school at 17 unsure what
I would do with my life. I knew however that I was curious
about everything and I wanted to think for myself. The
choice of topics within the Arts programme was astounding.
I selected topics based solely on my own interests. In second
year these topics split into multiple modules and again I
allowed my passions to guide my choice. The nature of the
Arts programme means that no two graduates are the same.
Their accumulated knowledge is unique and personalised
while still buttressed by the essential foundations of critical
thinking, logic and argument. I qualified as a solicitor after
graduating and I can say with certainty that I am the only
solicitor in Ireland with my specific academic background.
I feel this gives me an edge in every facet of my job from
problem-solving and questioning to comprehending
complex scenarios quickly. A phrase I first heard during my
freshers week has stayed with me throughout my career,
“Everyone else is trained but Arts students are educated”.
If you learn to think you can succeed anywhere.
Chosen Subjects
Philosophy
Sociology
Law Society Professional
Practice Course (PPC 1&2)
MA in
Sociology
BA (Hons)
Philosophy &
Sociology
JUST ONE OF THE CAREER PATHS YOU CAN TAKE WITH AN ARTS DEGREE

YOUR CAREER WITH
AN ARTS DEGREE
“The ability to
understand and
articulate changes
in our industry is
key to the ongoing
success of our
business.”
Kevin Bambury
CO-FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF
PORTABLE MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY LTD.
A key requirement of my role as Co-Founder and
Director of Portable Medical Technology Ltd. is to
communicate our company’s accomplishments and
vision with potential customers, investors and partners.
We are at the intersection of mobile technology,
healthcare and medical device regulation. We are in a
complex ever-changing industry where comprehension
and communication skills are key requirements.
My BA in English and Geography has given me the
ability to understand complex topics and to easily
communicate to various stakeholders. Whether it is via
an oral presentation, written documents or emails, I
always feel like I am well equipped to communicate our
business to existing or potential stakeholders. The ability
to understand and articulate changes in our industry is
key to the ongoing success of our business.
Chosen Subjects
English
Geography
Co-Founder and Director
of Portable Medical
Technology Ltd.
BA in
English and
Geography
JUST ONE OF THE CAREER PATHS YOU CAN TAKE WITH AN ARTS DEGREE

YOUR CAREER WITH
AN ARTS DEGREE
“I constantly draw
upon knowledge and
skills attained during
my undergraduate
courses in Geography
and English.”
Nicholas O’Riordan
PhD FILM STUDIES CANDIDATE/FILMMAKER
I’ve always been in love with the arts, with my teenage
years spent engaging in theatre, music and film. However,
I wanted to ground this practical experience in something
more. Choosing Arts in UCC naturally allowed me to
focus on areas that interested me, while also teaching
me about the cultures and societies that created them.
Choosing to focus much of my studies around film, my
academic interests naturally led me toward an MA in
Film Studies, and then on to my current studies as a
PhD candidate in Film Studies. With my PhD research
related directly to film, I constantly draw upon knowledge
and skills attained during my undergraduate courses in
Geography and English. I find that my years in UCC have
allowed me to explore this rich academic field, whilst
also continuing my practical endeavours, with my college
work constantly informing my filmmaking.
BA (Hons)
Geography &
English
MA in
Film Studies
Chosen Subjects
Geography
English
PhD candidate in
Film Studies
JUST ONE OF THE CAREER PATHS YOU CAN TAKE WITH AN ARTS DEGREE

YOUR CAREER WITH
AN ARTS DEGREE
“I have been involved in
many record breaking
auctions, the last one
being where a Van
Gogh painting was sold
for 60 million dollars.
All this has been
facilitated by my time
studying in UCC.”
Nicola Doody
CLIENT SERVICES EXECUTIVE,
SOTHEBY’S AUCTION HOUSE, NEW YORK
As far back as I can remember I always wanted to study
history of art and dreamed of working with art on some
level. On completing my Leaving Cert, I chose to study
Archaeology and History of Art in UCC and then went on
to major in History of Art. I adored the course content and
the organised trips away weren’t too bad either! I then
went on to do a Masters in Management and Marketing
in UCC, which also included a marketing internship in
Ballymaloe. I currently live in New York City on a graduate
visa working for Sotheby’s Auction House. In my current
position I work in the client services department and deal
with clients on a daily basis buying and selling art. It is
an amazing place to work and it’s like working in a living,
breathing museum. I have been involved in many record
breaking auctions, the last one being where a Van Gogh
painting was sold for 60 million dollars. All this has been
facilitated by my time studying in UCC.
BA (Hons)
History of Art &
Archaeology
Chosen Subjects
History of Art
Archaeology
Client Services Executive,
Sotheby’s Auction House,
New York
Masters in
Management
& Marketing
(UCC)
JUST ONE OF THE CAREER PATHS YOU CAN TAKE WITH AN ARTS DEGREE

YOUR CAREER WITH
AN ARTS DEGREE
“The degree allowed me
to experience a large
range of areas within
psychology. I had a
keen interest in culture,
beliefs, conflict within
society, and what is
liminal, which my studies
in English facilitated.”
Sean O’Connell
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AT
ACT NOW IRELAND
I wanted to become a psychologist. English and Psychology
were my main subjects in my Arts degree. The degree
allowed me to experience a large range of areas within
psychology. I had a keen interest in culture, beliefs, conflict
within society, and what is liminal, which my studies in
English facilitated. Then I completed the HDip in Applied
Psychology in UCC to allow for further progression. I spent a
lot of time researching the different avenues to qualifying as
a psychologist. In my spare time I was gathering volunteering
experience via societies and clubs. Afterwards I enrolled
in the Masters in Psychological Science in UCD and then
finished a Doctorate in Counselling Psychology in TCD. Now
I’m the assistant director of a therapy group, work part time
as a psychologist in the HSE, and conduct cognitive and
personality assessment for another company.
HDip in
Applied
Psychology
Chosen Subjects
English
Psychology
Masters in
Psychological
Science, UCD
Doctorate in
Counselling
Psychology, TCD
JUST ONE OF THE CAREER PATHS YOU CAN TAKE WITH AN ARTS DEGREE

YOUR CAREER WITH
AN ARTS DEGREE
“The rigorous intellectual
training I got in UCC in
terms of research, analysing
evidence, challenging
orthodoxies and learning
from the past, has been
of the greatest benefit to
me as a Planner and as
an activist in developing
successful strategies for
social change.”
Kieran Rose
SENIOR PLANNER
DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL
I studied History and Geography in UCC.
I particularly liked courses on the history of
economic thought and the theory of science.
I enjoyed my time in UCC hugely. I became
Auditor of the Historical Society and was a
founder member of Eco-Action. I later went on
to UCD to do a post-graduate qualification in
planning and have worked as a Planner ever
since. The rigorous intellectual training I got in
UCC in terms of research, analysing evidence,
challenging orthodoxies and learning from the
past, has been of the greatest benefit to me
as a Planner and as an activist in developing
successful strategies for social change.
BA
Geography
& History
Chosen Subjects
Geography
History
Postgraduate
Diploma in
Town Planning
Senior Planner,
Dublin City Council
Commissioner of the
Irish Human Rights and
Equality Commission
JUST ONE OF THE CAREER PATHS YOU CAN TAKE WITH AN ARTS DEGREE

YOUR CAREER WITH
AN ARTS DEGREE
“Studying Archaeology
at UCC allowed me to
experience so many
aspects and elements
of the subject that I was
unaware of, and it was
here that I discovered
my passion for the built
heritage”
Mona Hallinan
CONSERVATION OFFICER
CORK COUNTY COUNCIL
I am very fortunate that from a young age I knew
that I wanted to be an Archaeologist. On completing
my Leaving Cert, I studied Archaeology and History
as part of my Arts Degree. In 2003/04 I went on
to do my Masters in ‘The Archaeology of Medieval
and Post-Medieval Buildings’, at UCC. In my current
position as Conservation Officer with Cork County
Council, I am responsible for buildings included
in the Record of Protected Structures and those
located in Architectural Conservation Areas. My
work is very varied and includes Planning Policy
and Development Management relating to the
architectural heritage of the county.
Chosen Subjects
Archaeology
History
Conservation Officer
with Cork County Council
MA
Archaeology
BA
Archaeology
& History
JUST ONE OF THE CAREER PATHS YOU CAN TAKE WITH AN ARTS DEGREE

YOUR CAREER WITH
AN ARTS DEGREE
“My undergrad experience
was thoroughly worthwhile;
while I got to delve further
into particular areas of
interest as the degree
progressed, I also realise,
in retrospect, that I was
acquiring many skills which
have prepared me for the
position I’m in today.”
Sinead Murphy
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT FOR ROWMAN &
LITTLEFIELD INTERNATIONAL, LONDON
I completed my joint BA in English and Philosophy at
UCC in 2009; where I then furthered my studies with the
MA in English Modernities. My undergrad experience was
thoroughly worthwhile; while I got to delve further into
particular areas of interest as the degree progressed,
I also realise, in retrospect, that I was acquiring many
skills which have prepared me for the position I’m in
today. I now work as an Editorial Assistant for Rowman &
Littlefield International - an academic publisher in London.
We publish monographs and edited collections in the
Social Sciences - including Philosophy! I’m fortunate that
I find myself in a role where my academic background
enhances my ability to do my job. The bonus for me is
that I get to keep up to date with current research in the
Social Sciences and haven’t had to completely sever ties
with these areas of interest.
Chosen Subjects
English
Philosophy
Masters
English
(Modernities)
Editorial Assistant for
Rowman & Littlefield
International, London
BA
English
& Philosophy
JUST ONE OF THE CAREER PATHS YOU CAN TAKE WITH AN ARTS DEGREE

YOUR CAREER WITH
AN ARTS DEGREE
“Studying French and English
through the BA meant that
my love of literature and
writing helped me to really
understand the semantics of
the business world. Knowing
how to write well and
communicate well is really
the foundation for a lot of
the skills that we need from
a leadership perspective in
business today.”
Una Mackey
VICE PRESIDENT RETAIL AND E-COMMERCE
TECHNOLOGY FOR THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY
Una Markey (now Fox) gained 9 years of international
experience with Dow Jones, Thomson Financial & Cisco
Systems in London and Paris before moving to KPMG
Consulting where she worked with global brands such as
Microsoft, Qwest, Google, and AT&T. She became a Director
at Yahoo! in 2006 and now works as Vice President Retail
and eCommerce Technology for The Walt Disney Company.
Una Fox is a global technology and business leader, hugely
accomplished at global business technology management,
operations and the delivery of large-scale business
transformation programs. She has focused her career on
linking technology capabilities to business models and
creating new revenue opportunities. She has managed
and motivated successful business and technology teams
in complex environments to deliver rich and flexible
enterprise services at Fortune 100 companies.
Chosen Subjects
French
English
Vice President Retail and
eCommerce Technology for
The Walt Disney Company
BA
English
& French
JUST ONE OF THE CAREER PATHS YOU CAN TAKE WITH AN ARTS DEGREE

YOUR CAREER WITH
AN ARTS DEGREE
“After completing first
year I realised my
real passion was for
the mathematics and
applied mathematics
modules.”
Dhani Merrick
RESEARCHER IN THE INSIGHT CENTRE FOR
DATA ANALYTICS/CeADAR (CENTRE FOR
APPLIED DATA ANALYTICS RESEARCH)
Physics was by far my favourite leaving cert subject so the BSc in Physics
and Astrophysics in UCC seemed like an obvious first choice for my CAO
application. After completing first year I realised my real passion was
for the mathematics and applied mathematics modules. At the start of
second year participants choose to specialise in Astrophysics, Physics,
Chemical Physics, Physics and Mathematics or Physics and Applied
Mathematics. This meant I had no opportunity to study both Mathematics
and Applied Mathematics. I contacted the College of Arts, Celtic studies
and Social Sciences, as I was aware that these subjects were offered as
part of the BA programme. My application to transfer was approved and
I graduated with a BA Joint Hons Mathematics and Applied Mathematics
in 2013. Following graduation I applied for the MSc in Data Science
in Analytics in UCC. My application was accepted largely due to the
analytical and problem-solving skills I acquired through the BA subjects.
I graduated top of my class and acquired the top result in at least 4
modules. Three days after I completed my thesis I began working as a
researcher in The Insight Centre for Data Analytics/CeADAR (Centre for
Applied Data Analytics Research) based in UCC.
MSc in Data
Science in
Analytics
Chosen Subjects
Maths
Applied Maths
Researcher in the
Insight Centre for
Data Analytics, UCC
BA Joint Hons
Mathematics
and Applied
Mathematics
JUST ONE OF THE CAREER PATHS YOU CAN TAKE WITH AN ARTS DEGREE