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Joanna Sweeney

Jt Lecturer

Contact Details

Lecturer of Tourism, Event Management & Marketing
Marketing, Tourism & Sport
Office Number D2019
Atlantic Technological University
Ash Lane
Sligo

E: Joanna.Sweeney@atu.ie
Jt Lecturer
Address

E: joanna.sweeney@atu.ie
 
researcher

Biography


Lecturer of tourism, event management & marketing at the Atlantic Technological University, Sligo for the past 19 years, currently on a career break to embark upon this PhD study through University of Limerick focusing on Irish traditional music. An integral aspect of intangible cultural heritage & our tourism product. Playing Irish traditional music, immersed within the living culture is one’s truest expression. Life goals include developing as a musician through evolution of playing Irish traditional music & opportunities that are arising through total immersion of practice, observation & research which are driving the research goals at present.

Lecturer & supervisor of projects within the Dept. of Business, Marketing, Tourism & Sport.  Achieved a Masters thesis focusing on Tourism Education in Ireland in 2005.
Over 20 years lecturing experience and 12 years experience prior working in the tourism and hospitality industry both in Ireland and abroad.
Has a keen interest and am self-motivated in research and consultancy activities.
Involved in Real Life projects, community & civic engagement with students offering a unique learning experience. 

Research Interests

Regional musical identity 
Creative Economy,
Tourism,
Heritage,
Ireland,
Community Development,
Event management,
Adventure Tourism

Books

  Year Publication
(2007) Tourism & Hospitality Research in Ireland.
Noelle O'Connor (2007) Tourism & Hospitality Research in Ireland. Waterford IT: THRC Waterford Institute of Technology. School of Humanities publications. ISBN: 0-9540281-7-1. [Details]

Conference Publications

  Year Publication
(2008) Peer Reviewed Conference paper entitled: Meaningful Travel? Intermediaries and the Irish Volunteer tourist abroad. A Case study of Ecuador (June 2008). Institute of Technology, Tralee. THRC
Joanna Sweeney (2008) Meaningful Travel? Intermediaries and the Irish Volunteer tourist abroad. A Case study of Ecuador (June 2008). Institute of Technology, Tralee. THRC Peer Reviewed Conference paper entitled: Meaningful Travel? Intermediaries and the Irish Volunteer tourist abroad. A Case study of Ecuador (June 2008). Institute of Technology, Tralee. THRC [Details]
(2007) Conference paper presentation entitled: Developing Volunteer programmes for the tourism event industry in Ireland. Institute of Technology, Sligo Lunchtime seminar series ( November 2007)
Joanna Sweeney (2007) Developing Volunteer programmes for the tourism event industry in Ireland. Institute of Technology, Sligo Lunchtime seminar series ( November 2007) Conference paper presentation entitled: Developing Volunteer programmes for the tourism event industry in Ireland. Institute of Technology, Sligo Lunchtime seminar series ( November 2007) [Details]
(2007) Peer reviewed Conference paper in Developing Volunteer programmes for the Tourism event industry in Ireland at Dundalk Institute of Technology, (June 2007)
Joanna Sweeney (2007) Developing Volunteer programmes for the Tourism event industry in Ireland at Dundalk Institute of Technology, (June 2007) Peer reviewed Conference paper in Developing Volunteer programmes for the Tourism event industry in Ireland at Dundalk Institute of Technology, (June 2007) [Details]
(2006) Slow Food, Enriching the Tourism experience through agricultural diversity¿ Institute of Technology, Sligo Lunchtime seminar series ( November, 2006)
Joanna Sweeney (2006) Slow Food, Enriching the Tourism experience through agricultural diversity¿ Institute of Technology, Sligo Lunchtime seminar series ( November, 2006) Slow Food, Enriching the Tourism experience through agricultural diversity¿ Institute of Technology, Sligo Lunchtime seminar series ( November, 2006) [Details]
(2006) Peer reviewed Conference paper in the area of food tourism at Waterford Institute of Technology, Tourism & Hospitality Research, Exploring the challenges (June,2006) conference
Joanna Sweeney (2006) Food tourism at Waterford Institute of Technology, Tourism & Hospitality Research, Exploring the challenges (June,2006) conference Peer reviewed Conference paper in the area of food tourism at Waterford Institute of Technology, Tourism & Hospitality Research, Exploring the challenges (June,2006) conference [Details]
(2005) An analysis of the provision of Tourism education in Ireland, focusing on the needs of the public, private and voluntary sector. Institute of Technology, Sligo lunchtime seminar series (November, 2005)
Joanna Sweeney (2005) An analysis of the provision of Tourism education in Ireland, focusing on the needs of the public, private and voluntary sector. Institute of Technology, Sligo lunchtime seminar series (November, 2005) . In: Dr. James Hanrahan eds. An analysis of the provision of Tourism education in Ireland, focusing on the needs of the public, private and voluntary sector. Institute of Technology, Sligo lunchtime seminar series (November, 2005) [Details]
(2005)  Peer reviewed Conference paper in the area of tourism education at the annual Tourism & Hospitality Research in Ireland, exploring the issues conference, University of Ulster (2005)
Joanna Sweeney (2005)  Peer reviewed Conference paper in the area of tourism education at the annual Tourism & Hospitality Research in Ireland, exploring the issues conference, University of Ulster (2005)  Peer reviewed Conference paper in the area of tourism education at the annual Tourism & Hospitality Research in Ireland, exploring the issues conference, University of Ulster (2005) [Details]

Professional Associations

  Association Function From / To
AOIFE Member /
Comhaltas Céoltoiri Eireann Member /
NIRSA Member /

Committees

  Committee Function From / To
1916 Commemoration celebration Member /
Organic Society, Institute of Technology, Sligo Chairperson /
Tourism Society, Institute of Technology, Sligo Chairperson /
Slow food convivial member Chairperson /

Languages

  Language Reading Writing Speaking
Spanish Functional Functional Functional

Outreach Activities

  Description

Multiple Community engagement projects annually through PBL raising €60,000 for the charity sector 

Event Management of Local & Regional Festival sector through student coordination, mentoring & supervision
Green Campus projects in collaboration with ATU Sligo
Sligo Live Festival Board member
Adventure tourism industry fieldtrips
International trips & excursions with students 

Other Activities

  Description

Organising committee THRIC – Tourism & Hospitality Research in Ireland Conference hosted by IT Sligo in 2017 
New course development in IT Sligo – BB in Tourism with event management ordinary & Hons degrees Supervision of Msc Students through the dissertation process to completion ongoing Guest lecturer & speaker at ETB’s/ open days/ Induction days/ events/ County Councils Guest lecturer & Event speaker at Regional events ongoing Conference presentations at Tourism related events  ongoing Implementing Campus Engage activities at  IT Sligo since 2015
Board member St. Patricks Festival Sligo 2008-2014
Advisor to Sligo Volunteer Centre on academic research projects ongoing Industry lead guest lectures & events ongoing

Teaching Interests

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) 2021
Self directed learning
Problem Based Learning 
Real Life Project experience

Recent Postgraduates

  Graduation Student Name University Degree Thesis
2007 Lila Joly Institute of Technology, Sligo BBS Constructing Ireland as a French Tourism Destination
2013 Lynne Dullaghan Institute of Technology, Sligo BBS An investigation into the development of an Irish Cultural Cookery School Enterprise within the West of Ireland
2008 Lesley Cooney Institute of Technology, Sligo BBS Organisations which assist with Smoking cessation in Ireland
2009 Sinead Branley Institute of Technology, Sligo BBS Occupational stress
2016 Lauren McGee Institute of Technology, Sligo BBS An Analysis of Literary Tourism; A case study of the link between WB Yeats & his literary legacy to Sligo
2016 Natasha T Leonard Institute of Technology, Sligo BBS Exploring the impacts of tour operator business in the tourism industry
2007 Ciara Byrne Institute of Technology, Sligo BBS Stress in the workplace
2007 Joanna Kowalska Institute of Technology, Sligo BBS Stress in the workplace; A case study of work stress on Polish employees in Sligo
2011 Catherine Young Institute of Technology, Sligo Master of Arts A model to develop film-induced tourism in Ireland. An analysis of the critical success factors.
2019 Aishling Fay Institute of Technology, Sligo BBS An Analysis of the visitor experience at Kilmainham Gaol
2006 Katie Tierney Institute of Technology, Sligo BBS The Marketing of Religion as a tourism product in Ireland
2007 Anne Marie Flannery Institute of Technology, Sligo BBS An examination of Destination Marketing- Westport, Co. Mayo
2007 Elaine Devaney Institute of Technology, Sligo BBS How to maintain a competitive adventage among the spa industries in the NW of Ireland
2009 Eve Reid Institute of Technology, Sligo MSc The impact of Clinical management systems on the GP/Patient relationship from a GP's Perspective in Sligo town
2009 Pamela Kivlehan Institute of Technology, Sligo ACCA An Analysis of managing volunteers in community festivals. A focus on the Strandhill Gymkhana & craft fair.
2011 Philip Hynes Institute of Technology, Sligo BBS Irish Dancing as a tourism attraction. An analysis of the changes which have taken place in Irish Dance culture since the show; Riverdance
2011 Lauren O'Donnell Institute of Technology, Sligo BBS Prison Tourism; The motivations of tourists visiting dark tourism sites such as Kilmainham Jail
2007 Michelle McCahill Institute of Technology, Sligo BBS The impacts of Adventure Tourism on the Donegal Region
2008 Paul Cadden Institute of Technology, Sligo BBS An investigation of gender balance amongst SME's that start up Businesses in Sligo
2010 James Dillon Institute of Technology, Sligo MSc Marketing the Irish Hotel Industry in an economic downturn; an exploration into the rejuvenation of the Sligo Hotel industry through customer innovation
2012 Laura J Cunningham Institute of Technology, Sligo BBS An analysis of Ireland Retail Tourism sectors progression throughout the recession
2007 Stephen Nicholson Institute of Technology, Sligo BBS Manufacturing under pressure. A study of industry in Sligo