Dr Sheila Garrityis a Lecturer in Early Childhood Studies, with the School of Education in the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies. Dr Garrity is also a Senior Researcher with the UNESCO Child amp; Family Research Centre.Dr Garrity lectures on modules at under and post graduate levels, related to Early Childhood Education and Care, specialising in Early Childhood and family policy, ECEC as a family support, reflection on practice and education for sustainable development. Dr Garrity also lectures on research methodologies across the School, focused on qualitative research, ethnography, and engaging children and young people in research processes.Dr Garritys current research interests are focused on early childhood systems, emerging state policy, policy rationales and the role of key actors in shaping ECEC services.Drawing on her professional expertise and knowledge, Dr Garrity contributes to many groups and organisations at a national level and international levels. She has acted as the External Expert on interview panels for the Department of Education,the Department of Children and Youth Affairs on a number of occasions, and as part of a review of the Early Years Education Focused Inspections. In addition,Dr Garrity has acted as an External Examiner for many under and post graduates degree courses in the ECEC field in Ireland and as internalexaminer on a number of doctoral students Viva examinations at the University of Galway.Since 2021 she has been the Minister for Children (DCEDIY) nominee to Council, National Council for Curriculum and Assessment . In the spring of 2024 she was appointed to the Advisory Group for the Growing Up in Ireland longitudinal study. At an international level, in autumn of 2023, she was appointed to the Minister for Educations Early Learning and Childcare Advisory Group , in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, in Canada. Dr Garrity was Chair of PLÉ, the Association of Academics in ECEC degrees in HEIs in Ireland (from 2020 to end of 2024). As Chair of PLÉ, she participated inthe Department of Childrens (DCEDIY) Ministers Stakeholders Advisory Group as well as a number of workingsub-groups from time to time.

Early ChildhoodEarly YearsEducation and Care; Family Support through ECEC; Ethic of Care; Professional Development for the Early Years sector;ECEC policy in Ireland and the EU Community-based Childcare Inclusion in ECEC

Social Policy, particularly early childhood and family policy;Reflective Practice; Care Ethics and Policy; ECEC and Family Support; Professional Development in the ECEC sector; Qualitative Social Research, including ethnography.