Mary D. Cullen

Mary Dolores Cullen (born 1929), was the first woman to become a member of the academic staff at Maynooth University and an Irish women's movement activist. She was the co-founder of the Women's History Association of Ireland.

Early years and education Cullen was born in Dublin in 1929. She got her education in Tramore, County Waterford and Cork city before going on to complete a master's degree in history in University College Dublin in 1952. Cullen became a tutor in St Catharine's College, Cambridge from 1956 to 1958 and returned to her alma mater from 1964 to 1967. She went from UCD to Maynooth University lecturing there until 1994. She was also a part time lecturer in Trinity College Dublin from 1992.

Cullen co-founded, with Margaret MacCurtain, and worked as the original president of the Women's History Association of Ireland. She was awarded an honorary Doctorate by the National University of Ireland in 2011.

Awards Annually, The MacCurtain/Cullen Prize in Irishwomen's history is awarded in recognition of the outstanding contribution to Irish women's history.