Dr Mary Benson

    Sociology

    Auxilia House
    (01) 708 6572

    Biography

    Having completed my PhD in the Department of Sociology at Maynooth University in 2006, I joined the department as a lecturer in 2007. I have previously lectured in the Department of Adult and Community Education in Maynooth University and the Department of Planning in University College Dublin.

    The title of my PhD was ‘The Transformation of Ringsend within the Context of Post-Industrial Growth in Dublin: Gentrification and its implications’. This thesis draws on detailed qualitative interviews with old-timers and newcomers in Ringsend, to develop a critical sociological analysis of the forces shaping community and place in the twenty-first Century urban neighbourhood.

    My research interests lie in the field of urban sociology and include changing cityscapes; gentrification; public space; urban allotment gardens; place-making; cities and consumption; visual sociology.

    I am currently teaching the following modules:
    ·         Fieldwork Methods (Third Year)
    ·         Sociology of Consumption (Third Year)
    ·         Special Topic Place Exploration (Third Year)
     ·         Urban Sociology (Second Year)
     ·         The Sociology of Everyday Life (First Year)

    Book Chapters

      Year Publication
    2016 'The idea of allotment gardens and the role of spatial and urban planning'
    Drilling, M;Giedych, R;Ponizy, L;Benson, M;Bihunova, M;Mata, DD;Meeres, S;Oehler, P;Stepankova, R;Thomas, N;Weirich, M (2016) 'The idea of allotment gardens and the role of spatial and urban planning' In: URBAN ALLOTMENT GARDENS IN EUROPE. ABINGDON: ROUTLEDGE. [Details]
    2016 'Urban allotment gardens: a case for place-making'
    Mary Benson and Susan Noori (2016) 'Urban allotment gardens: a case for place-making' In: Urban Allotment Gardens in Europe. Oxon: Routledge Earthscan. [Details]
    2016 'Urban allotment garden A case for place-making'
    Noori, S;Benson, M;Gawryszewska, BJ;Hardman, M;Kasemets, K;Partalidou, M;Pikner, T;Willman, K (2016) 'Urban allotment garden A case for place-making' In: URBAN ALLOTMENT GARDENS IN EUROPE. ABINGDON: ROUTLEDGE. [Details]
    2016 'Emergent approaches to urban gardening'
    Caputo, S;Schwab, E;Tsiambaos, K;Benson, M;Bonnavaud, H;Demircan, N;Delshammar, T;Meireles, F;Moran, N;Pourias, J (2016) 'Emergent approaches to urban gardening' In: URBAN ALLOTMENT GARDENS IN EUROPE. ABINGDON: ROUTLEDGE. [Details]
    2010 '‘Landscapes of Recession in Contemporary Ireland’'
    Mary Benson and Eoin Flaherty (2010) '‘Landscapes of Recession in Contemporary Ireland’' In: Mary Corcoran, Perry Share (eds). Ireland of the Illusions: A Sociological Chronicle 2007-2008. Dublin: IPA Dublin. [Details]
    2008 'Contemporary Apartment Living: Living above Place?'
    Dr Mary Benson (2008) 'Contemporary Apartment Living: Living above Place?' In: Belongings: Shaping Identity in Modern Ireland. Dublin: IPA. [Details]

    Edited Books

      Year Publication
    2016 Urban Allotment Gardens in Europe
    Simon Bell, Runrid Fox-Kamper, Nazila Keshavarz, Mary Benson, Silvio Caputo, Susan Noori, Annette Voight (Ed.). (2016) Urban Allotment Gardens in Europe Oxon: Routledge Earthscan. [Details]

    Conference Contributions

      Year Publication
    2017 Irish Planning Conference 2017: National Planning Framework, The Future of Urban Planning, Activating Spaces & Developing places.
    Mary Benson (2017) Irish Planning Conference 2017: National Planning Framework, The Future of Urban Planning, Activating Spaces & Developing places. [Oral Presentation], ‘Diverse Public Spaces as an essential ingredient of the contemporary cityscape, Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin , 14-JUN-17 [Details]
    2016 Socio-Ecology Seminar Series.
    Mary Benson (2016) Socio-Ecology Seminar Series. [Oral Presentation], ‘Allotment Gardens: A re-imaging and re-imagining of suburban landscapes’, Maynooth University , 16-DEC-16 [Details]
    2015 Cost Action TU1201.
    Mary Benson (2015) Cost Action TU1201. [Oral Presentation], ‘Place-making in Allotment Gardens’, Birmingham, United Kingdom [Details]
    2013 IVSA Conference, The Public Image.
    Mary Benson and Annette Jorgensen (2013) IVSA Conference, The Public Image. [Oral Presentation], ‘A Visual Exploration of Allotments as Spaces of ‘Spectacle’: A comparative analysis of allotment gardens within The Greater Dublin Area and the City of Aarhus in Denmark, Goldsmiths, CUCR, University of London [Details]
    2013 Cost Action TU1201 First Plenary Session.
    Mary Benson (2013) Cost Action TU1201 First Plenary Session. [Keynote Address], ‘A Sociological Understanding of Allotments in The Greater Dublin Area’, Dortmund, Germany [Details]
    2013 Cost Action TU1201.
    Mary Benson (2013) Cost Action TU1201. [Oral Presentation], ‘A Sociological Overview and Methodological Approach to the Study of Allotment Gardens’, Aachen, Germany [Details]
    2012 Affective Landscapes Conference.
    Mary Benson (2012) Affective Landscapes Conference. [Oral Presentation], ‘Upper Sheriff Street: What’s in a Name?’, Derby, UK [Details]
    2010 Conference of Irish Geographers.
    Mary Benson (2010) Conference of Irish Geographers. [Oral Presentation], ‘Re-imagining suburbia: Boundaries and the spatial composition of the urban allotments’, Maynooth University [Details]
    2010 Annual Conference of the Sociological Association of Ireland.
    Mary P. Corcoran, Mary C. Benson and Jacqueline Hayes (2010) Annual Conference of the Sociological Association of Ireland. [Oral Presentation], The revival of urban allotments:a new public realm?, Belfast , 07-MAY-10 - 09-MAY-10 [Details]
    2010 Peripheral Visions,.
    Mary Benson (2010) Peripheral Visions,. [Oral Presentation], ‘Boundaries and the spatial composition of allotments: developing an alternative vision of residential landscapes’, Goldsmiths, UK [Details]

    Fact Sheet

      Year Publication
    2016 How to Make your Urban Garden your Own Place.
    Benson, Mary, Beata J. Gawryszewska and Susan Noori (2016) How to Make your Urban Garden your Own Place. Fact Sheet [Details]
    2016 Factsheet Info-Series, Urban Gardens in Europe.
    Mary Benson (2016) Factsheet Info-Series, Urban Gardens in Europe. Fact Sheet [Details]

    Report

      Year Publication
    2000 BETWIXT Report Stage B, Social Profile of Neighbourhoods in seven European Cities.
    Mary Corcoran, Tony Fahy and Mary Benson (2000) BETWIXT Report Stage B, Social Profile of Neighbourhoods in seven European Cities. Report [Details]