Careers with Arts

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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“UCC gave me an
opportunity to put
my hand up. I wrote
for the University
Examiner. I did three
radio shows on the
university radio. I just
put my hand up and
tried stuff.”
Samantha Barry
Journalist – Global Head of Social and
Emerging Media at CNN Worldwide
It’s a brave new world and Samantha Barry, a native of
Cork, is at the forefront of it. After she graduated with an
Arts degree (English and Psychology) from UCC in 2002,
she went on to do an MA in Journalism at Dublin City
University and from that she got a job at RTÉ. Following
a stint as lunchtime reporter at Newstalk radio, Samantha
went to South America and while there she got what she
describes as a “very offbeat opportunity” to go to Papua
New Guinea with ABC to train young reporters. She spent
some time working in Pakistan before going to London to
work at BBC World News and BBC Media Action.
She was headhunted from BBC World News in London to
run CNN’s growing social media division. She interviewed
Donald Trump in a toilet in Miami, spoke to Hillary Clinton
backstage and talked to Bernie Sanders and every other
candidate in the recently-held US presidential election.
Chosen Subjects
English
Psychology
Samantha loved the classes in UCC: “I remember one of my
favourite classes in English looked at how Shakespeare had
influenced movies of the time. I adored going in there.”
“Studying Arts in UCC helped me hone my skills and gave
me confidence in journalism and made me feel that I could
do this. It really started me on the path to working at the
BBC.”
Masters in
Journalism
Head of Social Media,
CNN – Journalist
BA
JUST ONE OF THE CAREER PATHS YOU CAN TAKE WITH AN ARTS DEGREE