Useful Ideas for a History Project by Irish Writers
If you’re sitting there with a blank page, muttering, “Ah, here, what’ll I do for this history project?”, don’t worry — you’re in good company. Every single year, students across Ireland (Leaving Cert warriors, QQI learners, and uni students alike) end up in the same boat. The stress is real:
- What topic do I pick?
- Will my idea be unique enough?
- How do I even start?
It can feel like trying to herd cats. But here’s the bit of good news — Irish history is absolutely packed with stories waiting to be told. From famine fields in Skibbereen, to tenements in Dublin, to emigration tales stretching as far as New York and Sydney — there’s no shortage of fascinating material.
Nor do you need to have the same old dusty subjects. With proper dose of inspiration (and some clever tricks I will share) one can create a project which will be new, meaningful, and even, perhaps, entertaining. Sure, wouldn’t that be a grand job?
Why History Projects Actually Matter
Let’s call a spade a spade: a lot of students groan when they hear “project.” But truth be told, history projects in Ireland aren’t just busywork. They genuinely matter, both for grades and for life.
For Your Exams and Courses
- Leaving Cert Students: Your Research Study Report (RSR) makes up 20% of your final grade. That’s not small change. A strong project could be the difference between scraping a pass and pulling up your overall grade.
- QQI Learners: In many modules, the project is the make-or-break element. Nail it, and you’re sorted. Flop it, and you could be stuck repeating.
- University Students: Your essays, dissertations, or research assignments are chances to prove you can handle sources and put forward your own perspective. That’s a key skill employers and postgrad programmes look for.
So yes, projects matter on paper. But the bigger reason is this…
For Your Sense of Story
History projects aren’t just about dates and dusty archives — they’re about people and stories. Think of it this way:
- Walk past your local GAA pitch. Why’s it named after that person?
- Spot a famine memorial in a rural village. Who’s remembered there?
- Wander Dublin streets and notice plaques on Georgian houses. What tales hide behind those doors?
A project is your chance to uncover and retell those voices. You’re not just doing homework; you’re becoming a small historian yourself.
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Where Writers Come In
This is where Irish writers are absolute gold. Think about it:
- James Joyce’s Dubliners is practically a social history of the city, told through ordinary lives.
- Seamus Heaney’s poems capture the rhythms of rural life, the Troubles, and even bog bodies.
- Edna O’Brien’s novels shine a light on women’s struggles in mid-20th-century Ireland.
These writers remind us that history isn’t only in government reports or census records. It’s in literature, memory, and everyday language. Dip into them, and you’ll find sparks for your own project.
How to Choose a History Project Topic
Here’s the truth: the hardest bit of any history project isn’t the writing, or even the research. It’s that dreaded first step — picking the topic.
Go too broad, and you’ll drown in sources faster than you can say “famine.” Go too narrow, and you’ll be staring at one half-burnt newspaper clipping thinking, “well that’s me done, so.”
The trick is balance. Something manageable, but not boring. Something original, but with enough material to work with. Here’s a handy step-by-step:
1. Start with What Actually Interests You
Sounds obvious, but you’d be amazed how many students pick a “safe” topic they don’t care about — and then spend weeks resenting it.
Ask yourself:
- Do you lean towards politics and big events?
- Do you prefer local community stories?
- Are you into literature, sport, or culture?
👉 Example: If you love GAA, you could explore the history of your local club. If you’re a bookworm, maybe dive into the Irish Literary Revival. If you’re mad about music, trace the céilí bands in your county.
Fair play if you pick something close to your heart — it makes the late nights way less painful.
2. Look Local First
Teachers and examiners love local history. Why? Because it shows originality. Anyone can write a generic essay on the Famine, but only you can write about how the Famine shaped your own parish.
Where to look:
- Parish records (baptisms, marriages, deaths).
- Local newspapers in your library’s archive.
- Gravestones in the old cemetery.
- Even your grandparents’ stories over a cup of tea.
Sometimes, the best project material is sitting right there at your kitchen table.
3. Test the Waters with Tools
Here’s where modern tech earns its keep. Fire up something like ChatGPT or Gemini and ask:
- “Give me unique local history project ideas based on [my county].”
- “What are some overlooked Irish history topics?”
Now, don’t just copy-paste the answer (teachers can sniff that out a mile away). Use it as a brainstorming push. Sure look, it’s like having a mate throw ideas at you when you’re stuck.
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4. Narrow It Down
Let’s say you’re interested in emigration. If you just write “Irish emigration to America,” you’ll be swimming in way too much info. But if you refine it to:
- “Impact of emigration on Mayo families in the 1950s through letters and oral history.”
Now you’ve got something concrete, specific, and totally unique.
That’s the sweet spot.
5. Make Sure There Are Sources
Before you get too excited, check if you can actually find material. There’s nothing worse than committing to a brilliant idea and realising the records are either locked in an archive you can’t access, or worse — they don’t exist at all.
Where to check:
- National Library of Ireland (brilliant for manuscripts, letters, photos).
- Irish Newspaper Archive (everyday events, obituaries, even ads).
- Military Archives (witness statements, pensions, Bureau of Military History).
- Dúchas.ie (Schools’ Folklore Scheme — absolute gold for quirky tales).
6. Decide the Format
Some students are natural essay writers. Others do better with something visual. The good news? Most teachers are flexible about format, as long as the research is solid.
Options include:
- Essay (classic, neat, examiner-friendly).
- Scrapbook (photos, cuttings, maps, and captions).
- Podcast (record interviews, add commentary).
- Short video (walk through your town, narrate its history).
Pick the one that matches your style. No point forcing yourself into a 3,000-word essay if you’d shine with a podcast.
7. Do a Quick Trial Run
Once you’ve landed on a rough idea, test it. Jot down three sources you’d use, and one way you’d present it. If you can’t think of them, the topic’s probably too weak.
And if you’re not sure, run it by a teacher or even a mate. Sometimes all you need is someone saying, “yeah, that’s solid,” before you commit.
💡 Bottom Line: The best projects are the ones that mix your personal interest with accessible sources. Pick something you’d actually enjoy chatting about in the pub — because you’ll be “chatting” about it in writing for a good while.
15+ Detailed Irish History Project Ideas
1. Women in the 1916 Rising
- Explanation: Highlight overlooked female figures like Countess Markievicz, Kathleen Clarke, or local Cumann na mBan members.
- Primary sources: Military Archives witness statements, photographs, and personal letters.
- Format: Essay with a short podcast episode.
- AI tip: Use ChatGPT to summarise witness statements before analysing them yourself.
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2. The Big House in Your Area
- Explanation: Investigate Anglo-Irish landlords, their estates, and how land reforms changed ownership.
- Primary sources: Griffith’s Valuation, estate maps, census returns, local folklore.
- Format: Scrapbook or illustrated map project.
- AI tip: Ask AI to help you visualise estate maps into simple diagrams.
3. The Great Famine’s Impact Locally
- Explanation: Study emigration, workhouses, or local relief committees.
- Primary sources: Workhouse registers, Poor Law Union minutes, famine memorials.
- Format: Essay or memorial booklet.
- AI tip: Use AI to create a family tree or emigration chart.
4. Emigration Letters from America
- Explanation: Track a local family who emigrated, focusing on their letters home.
- Primary sources: Family archives, Irish Emigration Museum collections, online archives.
- Format: Scrapbook with scans of letters.
- AI tip: Use AI OCR tools to clean up handwriting into readable text.
5. The History of Your Parish Church
- Explanation: Churches are community hubs with stories in architecture, parish registers, and social changes.
- Primary sources: Parish records, gravestone inscriptions, and old photographs.
- Format: Heritage trail guidebook.
- AI tip: AI can help map out key architectural features in simple terms.
6. The Irish Civil War in Your County
- Explanation: Compare pro- and anti-Treaty divisions locally.
- Primary sources: Bureau of Military History witness statements, newspapers, and local oral accounts.
- Format: Essay or debate-style video project.
- AI tip: Ask AI to generate balanced debate prompts for both sides.
7. The Role of Irish Nuns Abroad
- Explanation: Explore how Irish nuns built schools and hospitals worldwide.
- Primary sources: Convent archives, missionary records, oral interviews.
- Format: Essay or short video documentary.
- AI tip: Use AI to create a global map showing missions from Ireland.
8. Dublin Tenements in the Early 20th Century
- Explanation: Research poverty, overcrowding, and reform efforts.
- Primary sources: Dublin housing reports, photographs, oral histories.
- Format: Scrapbook with images and statistics.
- AI tip: AI can turn census data into simple charts.
9. The Troubles in Northern Ireland
- Explanation: Focus on one local story, mural, or peace initiative.
- Primary sources: CAIN archive, oral interviews, photographs of murals.
- Format: Podcast series with local interviews.
- AI tip: Use AI transcription for recorded oral history.
10. The Gaelic Revival
- Explanation: Study the movement to revive the Irish language, music, and sports.
- Primary sources: Writings of Douglas Hyde, Gaelic League records, old Irish textbooks.
- Format: Essay with supporting scrapbook.
- AI tip: AI can help you translate snippets of Irish texts.
11. Irish Soldiers in World War I
- Explanation: Trace local soldiers’ stories and how they’re remembered.
- Primary sources: Military service records, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and local memorials.
- Format: Essay or illustrated memorial project.
- AI tip: Ask AI to summarise large record sets into profiles.
12. The 1913 Dublin Lockout
- Explanation: Research working-class struggles and trade union activism.
- Primary sources: Irish Transport and General Workers’ Union records, newspapers, and James Larkin speeches.
- Format: Essay or dramatic re-enactment script.
- AI tip: Ask AI to help script dialogues based on historical speeches.
13. Irish Migration to Britain (1950s–70s)
- Explanation: Study Irish workers in Britain and their role in communities.
- Primary sources: Oral history interviews, letters, photographs, Irish centres in the UK.
- Format: Essay or short film.
- AI tip: AI can generate subtitles for oral testimonies.
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14. A Local Hero of the War of Independence
- Explanation: Focus on one IRA volunteer, spy, or figure from your county.
- Primary sources: Bureau of Military History, local newspapers, family stories.
- Format: Biography essay.
- AI tip: Use AI to create a timeline of their life events.
15. Irish Diaspora in America (or Australia/Canada)
- Explanation: Explore communities abroad and how they preserved Irish culture.
- Primary sources: Ellis Island records, oral histories, emigrant letters.
- Format: Essay or diaspora heritage scrapbook.
- AI tip: Use AI to generate interactive migration maps.
16. The History of Irish Railways
- Explanation: Study how the railways changed local economies and travel.
- Primary sources: Railway company archives, old maps, photographs.
- Format: Scrapbook with maps and tickets.
- AI tip: Ask AI to visualise old railway routes on modern maps.
17. Irish Hunger Strikes (20th Century)
- Explanation: From Terence MacSwiney to Bobby Sands, explore hunger strikes as political statements.
- Primary sources: Prison letters, memoirs, newspaper coverage.
- Format: Essay with memorial-style narrative.
- AI tip: AI can help analyse recurring themes across speeches and letters.
18. The Role of Irish Writers as Historians
- Explanation: Study how Joyce, Yeats, or Heaney recorded history through literature.
- Primary sources: Their works, literary criticism, historical events in context.
- Format: Essay blending literature and history.
- AI tip: Ask AI to map themes between literature and historical events.
19. The Development of Irish Education
- Explanation: Trace from hedge schools to national schools and modern reforms.
- Primary sources: Education reports, oral history interviews, old schoolbooks.
- Format: Scrapbook or essay.
- AI tip: Use AI to summarise education policy changes into timelines.
20. Sport and Identity in Ireland
- Explanation: Study how GAA, soccer, and rugby shaped community and politics.
- Primary sources: GAA museum archives, match programmes, oral histories.
- Format: Essay or scrapbook with memorabilia.
- AI tip: Ask AI to create infographics comparing sports history.
Irish Writers as Inspiration
Sometimes when you’re stuck, the best place to look isn’t a history textbook at all — it’s Irish literature. Writers here have always doubled as chroniclers of their time, slipping history into stories and poems in ways that feel alive.
Here are a few to spark your project ideas:
W.B. Yeats – The Voice of Revival
Yeats was not scribbling mystical poetry in vain. His plays and poems were connected with Irish Literary Revival and the nationalist impulse towards culture. A project linking Yeats to the wider independence movement is always a safe bet.
👉 Example: Compare “Cathleen Ní Houlihan” with the political mood in Ireland around 1900.
James Joyce – Dublin’s Social Historian
Say what you like about Joyce being hard to read, but the man basically wrote Dublin’s social history into fiction. Dubliners is a film of everyday life: pubs, back streets, disappointments, expectations.
👉 Project idea: Eveline or The Dead to discuss gender roles or emigration in early 20 th century Dublin.
Seamus Heaney – Rural Life and The Troubles
Heaney had a gift for making bogs and spades feel like epic subjects. But beneath it, he was recording a whole rural way of life and, later, the shadows of the Troubles.
👉 Project idea: Link his “bog body” poems to how Ireland remembers its past — archaeology, memory, violence.
Edna O’Brien – Women’s Struggles
Her novels rattled cages in mid-20th-century Ireland. She wrote about women’s lives when many wanted those voices silenced.
👉 Project idea: Explore how censorship of her novels mirrors attitudes to women’s roles at the time.
Colm Tóibín – The Diaspora Voice
From Brooklyn to Nora Webster, Tóibín taps into emigration, grief, and Irish identity.
👉 Project idea: Compare Brooklyn to real letters or oral histories of women emigrating in the 1950s.
💡 Bottom line: Literature isn’t just art. It’s history dressed up in rhythm and story. Dip into these writers, and you’ll find new ways to frame your project.
Using Tools Smartly (Without Cheating)
Right, let’s talk tools. Students panic here: “If I use AI, will my teacher think I’m cheating?” The answer is — not if you use it wisely.
Think of tools as helpers, not replacements. Like having a mate who’ll hold the ladder while you do the actual fixing.
AI Helpers (ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity)
- Use them to brainstorm topics when you’re blanking.
- Ask them to summarise long witness statements before you do the analysis.
- Generate debate-style prompts if your project needs balance.
⚠️ But — don’t let them write the project for you. Teachers can sniff AI-heavy work a mile away. Use it as scaffolding, not the final wall.
Visual & Creative Tools
- Canva: For scrapbooks, posters, timelines. Makes things look polished without much faff.
- CapCut: For video or podcast editing. Dead handy if you’re doing interviews.
- OCR Tools: Convert messy handwritten letters into clear text.
- Transcription Apps: Record an interview with your nan, then let the tool type it out so you can focus on analysis.
Student Tip
Always double-check what tools spit out. If an AI says “The famine ended in 1850,” make sure you cross-check it with a real source. Teachers respect original thought backed by verified evidence.
Where to Find Reliable Irish Primary Sources
Here’s the golden rule: your history project is only as strong as the sources you back it up with. Examiners don’t want guesswork; they want evidence. Luckily, Ireland is stacked with archives that even students can access.
1. National Library of Ireland (NLI)
If you’re in Dublin, head in and you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into Hogwarts. Manuscripts, newspapers, photographs, letters — eeverything is at the NLI. If you’re not near Dublin, their digital collections are a lifesaver.
2. Military Archives (Dublin)
This is where you’ll find witness statements from the War of Independence, pensions, and Bureau of Military History material. If your project touches 1916, the Civil War, or the Tan War — Military Archives is pure gold.
3. UCD Digital Library
UCD Digital Library is not just for university folk — students can use it too. Photographs, rare books, maps, and collections you won’t find anywhere else.
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4. Irish Newspaper Archive
Want to know what people were reading about in 1923, or how emigration ads looked in the 1950s? This database has national and local newspapers stretching back centuries. Irishnewspaperarchive
5. Dúchas.ie (Schools’ Folklore Scheme)
One of my favourites. In the 1930s, schoolchildren collected folklore from their parents and grandparents. You’ll find stories about fairies, cures, superstitions, and local history. Perfect if you want something quirky and original. duchas.ie
6. Europeana & JSTOR
If you’re at uni, JSTOR gives you peer-reviewed articles. Europeana is great for connecting Irish history to the wider European story.
💡 AI Tip: Use AI tools to sort or categorise your sources into themes (political, cultural, social). That way, when you’re writing, you’re not drowning in a sea of random quotes.
How to Structure a Winning History Project
Once you’ve got your topic and sources, the next question is: how do I actually shape this into a project that gets marks?
Here’s a tried-and-tested structure that works across Leaving Cert RSRs, QQI assignments, and even university essays.
1. Introduction
- State your topic clearly.
- Give a quick bit of background.
- Outline what you’re trying to find out (“This project explores how…”).
2. Background & Context
- Place your topic in time and place.
- Explain why it matters (local, national, or global significance).
- Example: “The Great Famine devastated Ireland nationally, but this project focuses on how it reshaped life in Skibbereen parish.”
3. Primary Sources
- Present your key evidence.
- Show variety: written, visual, oral.
- Example: Pair a letter with a photograph, or an interview with a gravestone inscription.
4. Analysis & Discussion
- Don’t just describe what you found — analyse it.
- Compare perspectives (e.g., how two newspapers reported the same event differently).
- Link small details to bigger historical themes.
5. Conclusion
- Summarise your main findings.
- Reflect on why they matter.
- Mention any limitations (“Some records were lost”).
6. Bibliography & Citations
- Always use proper referencing (Harvard or MLA are safe bets).
- Neatness counts — teachers give marks for this.
💡 Student Hack: Even if you’re doing a scrapbook or podcast, still include a mini written structure in the background notes. Examiners like to see that you’ve thought it through.
Mistakes to Avoid
Even the sharpest students can trip up on history projects. Here are the common pitfalls — and how to dodge them:
❌ Picking a Topic That’s Too Broad
“The Great Famine” as a whole is massive. You’ll drown. Instead, zoom in: “The impact of the Famine on Skibbereen parish”.
❌ Ignoring Primary Sources
If your project is just a summary of secondary books, you’ll lose marks. Teachers want to see letters, newspapers, photos, gravestones, interviews. That’s the good stuff.
❌ Over-Relying on AI
Look, it’s handy for brainstorming. But if your whole project reads like ChatGPT spat it out, you’re sunk. Use it as a helper, not the writer.
❌ Weak Referencing
Sloppy bibliographies make your work look rushed. Take the time to cite properly. It’s easy marks.
❌ Forgetting the Narrative
A project isn’t a list of facts. It’s a story. If you just dump information with no flow, it’ll feel lifeless.
Turning Research into a Narrative
Here’s the secret sauce: the best history projects read like stories. They’ve got heart, not just data.
- Open with a human voice: Start with a quote from a letter, poem, or oral interview.
- Example: “My dear brother, the ship is crowded, but hope keeps us afloat…”
- Example: “My dear brother, the ship is crowded, but hope keeps us afloat…”
- Paint the scene: Describe Dublin’s tenements with smells, sounds, and sights.
- Blend literature and history: Drop in a Yeats verse or a Heaney line to connect fact with feeling.
- Mix formats: Scrapbooks, podcasts, or short films bring history alive beyond essays.
💡 Think of yourself as a storyteller with evidence. That’s what wins marks.
Conclusion
So, here’s the bottom line:
History projects in Ireland aren’t just another hoop to jump through. They’re a chance to connect with the stories that made us who we are.
From famine fields to parish folklore, from Joyce’s Dubliners to Heaney’s bog poems — Irish history is everywhere. It’s in the GAA pitch down the road, the gravestones in your local cemetery, and the songs your grandparents still hum.
By mixing inspiration from Irish writers, reliable archives, and clever use of modern tools, you can craft a project that’s not only academically solid but also personally meaningful.
Next time you’re staring at that blank page, don’t panic. Look around you — the history’s already there. All you’ve got to do is choose your story and start telling it.
And sure look, with a bit of effort, you’ll not only get the grades but you might even enjoy the craic along the way.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Which topic is best for a history project?
Honestly, the best topic is one that feels alive — something with a local heartbeat. Projects on the 1916 Rising, famine memories, or even parish folklore always land well. Most Irish examiners love it when students bring in local stories or old letters.
2. What are some interesting project ideas?
Go beyond the usual wars and politics. Look into Irish women writers during independence, the GAA’s role in identity, or letters from emigrants. Even small stories from rural towns can outshine big national topics. Students often pull higher marks for originality over scale.
3. What are the 7 historical concepts?
Most teachers stick to evidence, significance, empathy, cause and consequence, change and continuity, interpretation, and perspective. Nail these seven, and your analysis will sound sharp. Every solid history project links its sources to at least two of them naturally — that’s what makes it read like proper research.
4. What can be done for a history project?
Plenty — essays, podcasts, short videos, even visual scrapbooks. The main thing is to show understanding through real evidence. Irish archives, Dúchas folklore, or old parish papers make any format shine. Presentation counts, but genuine insight gets the grades.
5. How do writers help with Irish history projects?
Irish authors make history feel human. Think of Yeats for revival, Heaney for rural life, or Joyce for city stories. Their work gives emotional weight to factual research. Many students blend literature and history together — it’s a smart move that examiners respect.
6. How can I make my project stand out?
Pick a personal connection — maybe your county, a local memorial, or family letters. Keep the story visual and short-snappy in tone. Teachers love when research feels like a real discovery, not copied notes. You can always get feedback from AI-Free Assignment Help in Ireland before submitting.
7. Are local topics better than national ones?
Most of the time, yes. Local stories show originality and genuine curiosity. Anyone can write about the famine, but only you can write about how it shaped your town or school parish. Local detail gives that “real voice” graders value.
8. Can digital tools or AI be used for research?
They can help brainstorm or summarise, but never let them write your project. Teachers spot that straight away. Use tools only for notes or layouts. Every fact should trace back to a verified Irish source — that’s how top marks are earned.
9. What if I can’t find enough primary sources for my idea?
Happens all the time. Narrow it down, or tweak the angle. Local libraries, the National Library of Ireland, and Dúchas.ie are goldmines. Even chatting with an older relative counts as oral history. Fair play, that’s unique material examiners adore.
10. What topics actually impress Irish examiners?
Anything local and original. Instead of “The Famine in Ireland,” try “Impact of the Famine on Skibbereen families.” Instead of “1916 Rising,” go with “Women of the Rising in Cork.” Examiners mark higher for unique takes.
11. How do I stop my project from sounding like a boring Wikipedia page?
The trick is storytelling — not listing facts like a robot. Bring in quotes, local tales, or even short extracts from Irish writers to make it sound alive. Add your own analysis instead of copy-pasting timelines. Students who use services like Ireland Assignment Help get guidance on tone, research balance, and originality — plus perks like free Turnitin checks, expert-written samples, and full project editing support.
12. Are there Irish-specific online archives that don’t get enough attention?
Yes! Students always forget about the Irish Newspaper Archive and Dúchas.ie. The Schools’ Folklore Scheme has absolute gems — fairy stories, cures, and local superstitions. Great craic to read, and unique for projects.
