Skip to main content

Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin

Menu Search


Trinity College Dublin By using this website you consent to the use of cookies in accordance with the Trinity cookie policy. For more information on cookies see our cookie policy.

      
Profile Photo

Dr. Leigh-Ann Sweeney

Assistant Professor (Social Studies)
      
Profile Photo

Dr. Leigh-Ann Sweeney

Assistant Professor (Social Studies)

 sweenele@tcd.ie

 


Dr Leigh-Ann Sweeney is a social work academic, researcher, and registered CORU social worker. Dr Sweeney is Course Director of the Bachelor in Social Studies (Social Work) at Trinity College Dublin, where she teaches across undergraduate and postgraduate social work programmes and supervises Master's and PhD researchers. Dr Sweeney`s research examines how gender, power, structural inequality, and social policy shape individual and collective experiences, with particular expertise in sex work, feminist social work, and sexual and reproductive health. Drawing together perspectives from social work, health promotion, sociology, philosophy, and feminist scholarship, her work challenges individualised explanations of social problems and foregrounds the structural conditions through which inequality, marginalisation, and disadvantage are produced and sustained. Dr Sweeney has published widely in peer-reviewed journals and scholarly collections, produced commissioned research reports, contributed to funded research collaborations, and presented her work internationally. Her scholarship has contributed to national and international debates concerning sex work, gender inequality, structural oppression, victim-blaming, and feminist approaches to social work education and practice. A central concern across her work is strengthening the relationship between research, policy, professional practice, and the lived experiences of communities affected by inequality. Dr Sweeney is co-founder and board member of the Irish Sex Work Research Network, through which she has helped advance interdisciplinary research, knowledge exchange, and evidence-informed dialogue on sex work, policy, and gender equality. Within Trinity College Dublin, she has co-chaired the Athena Swan Committee in the School of Social Work and Social Policy and serves on the School Research Ethics Committee, contributing to wider institutional work on equality, research integrity, and inclusive academic practice. Prior to joining Trinity, Dr Sweeney was Lecturer Above the Bar in Social Work at Atlantic Technological University (formerly the Institute of Technology, Sligo), where she contributed to the development and delivery of the first Master of Social Work programme within Ireland's Institute of Technology sector. Her academic work is informed by extensive professional practice experience across medical social work, probation services, children in care, and family support. Dr Sweeney holds a PhD from the School of Medicine and Health Sciences and a Master of Social Work from the School of Political Science and Sociology at the University of Galway. Following her doctorate, she undertook postdoctoral research across Psychology and Medicine and Health Sciences within the Health Promotion Research Centre. Her academic journey began as a mature student with a Certificate in Women's Studies at University College Dublin, an experience that established the feminist and social justice perspectives that continue to underpin her research, teaching, and professional practice. Across her research, teaching, leadership, and mentorship, Dr Sweeney is committed to advancing critical, feminist, and socially just approaches to social work and to producing scholarship that connects academic knowledge with policy, practice, and meaningful social change.
Project Title
 Evaluating the Impact of BUSS LEAPlets Early Intervention Groupwork on Children who have Experienced Developmental Trauma, their Foster Carers and Social Workers
From
To
Summary
Project Title
 FOST-WELL: A Biographic Narrative Study of Foster Carers" Wellbeing, Experiences of Stressors and Social Supports during Placement Breakdown in Ireland
From
To
Summary
Project Title
 A scoping study to explore how social work educators understand and apply interdisciplinary teaching and learning (IDTL-SW).
From
To
Summary
Project Title
 Understanding the structural oppression of sex workers: towards informing critical social work education
From
To
Summary
Project Title
 An Investigation into Marginalised Women"s Experiences of the Free Contraception Scheme
From
To
Summary

Details Date From Date To
Registered Social Worker: Registration Number SW027599 CORU - Health & Social Care Professionals Council, Ireland 2018 to date
Social Work Education and Research Forum [SWERF] 1019 to date
Irish Sex Work Research Network [ISWRN] 2014 TO DATE
Sweeney, L.A. and Flynn, S., Exploring feminist egalitarian discourse and sex work for the social work curriculum: A critical pedagogy, Critical and Radical Social Work, 14, (1), 2026, p23 - 41, Notes: [DOI: https://doi.org/10.1332/20498608Y2024D000000045], Journal Article, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text  DOI
Sweeney, LA, The Closure of Sex Workers Alliance Ireland (SWAI): Implications for Sex Work and Social Work, Affilia, 2026, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Sweeney, LA.,, Neo-abolitionist radical feminist perspectives on sex work: implications for social work education., Critical and Radical social work, 2026, p1"10 , Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Sweeney, LA, Feminist Social Work with Simone de Beauvoir: Ethics, Ambiguity, and Sex Work, Affilia, 2026, Journal Article, ACCEPTED
Gallagher, N, Doyle, M., Mooney, J., Chen, X., McCaughren, S., Sweeney, LA. Kirwan, G., Naylor, R., Swords, C. ,, How educators understand and apply interdisciplinary and interprofessional teaching and learning in Social Work programmes in Ireland, Journal of Social Work Education, 2026, Journal Article, ACCEPTED
Sweeney, LA., Sweeney Batard, B., A Place for Social Work in the Truth and Reconciliation Process An Exposition of the Northern Ireland Conflict, Irish Social Worker, 2026, Journal Article, ACCEPTED
Gallagher, N, Doyle, M., Mooney, J., Chen, X., McCaughren, S., Sweeney, LA. Kirwan, G., Naylor, R., Swords, C. ,, Interdiciplinary teaching and learning in social work education across the island of Ireland, European Conference of Social Work Education, Aberdeen, Scotland, 15-17 April, 2026, Published Abstract, PUBLISHED  URL
Sweeney, L.A., Flynn, S., Callan, A. and Nudo, M.,, An Investigation into Women's Experiences of the Free Contraception Scheme: Research Project Report, April, 2026, Report, PUBLISHED  DOI
Sweeney LA., Moran, L., Evaluating the Impact of BUSS LEAPlets® Early Intervention Groupwork on Children who have Experienced Developmental Trauma, their Foster Carers and Social Workers, 2026, Report, ACCEPTED
Sweeney, LA., and Flynn, S., Understanding the Structural Oppression of Sex Workers: Toward Informing Social Work from an Irish Standpoint,, Affilia, 2025, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
  

Page 1 of 3
Sweeney, LA., Moran, L., Summary Report: Evaluating the Impact of BUSS LEAPlets® Early Intervention Groupwork on Children who have Experienced Developmental Trauma, their Foster Carers and Social Workers, 2026, Report, ACCEPTED
Sweeney, LA., The lived Experiences of Sex Workers in Ireland: Understanding Sex Work for Social Work, National Local Authority Social Work Conference, Dublin, 9th of November, 2023, Invited Talk, PRESENTED

  


Award Date
Galway Research Fellowship / Galway Doctoral Research Scholarship 2009- 2014
Aurora Leadership Development Programme 2020