Páid McGee was an Irish

psychologist A psychologist is a professional who practices psychology and studies mental states, perceptual, cognitive, emotional, and social processes and behavior. Their work often involves the experimentation, observation, and interpretation of how indi ...

and educator.

Career

McGee was born in Aughnacliffe, County Longford. He initially trained as a teacher at St Patrick's College, Dublin. He then completed a BA, HDip in Ed., and M Psych degree at

University College Dublin University College Dublin (commonly referred to as UCD) ( ga, Coláiste na hOllscoile, Baile Átha Cliath) is a public research university in Dublin, Ireland, and a collegiate university, member institution of the National University of Ireland ...

. He returned to St Patrick's College, Dublin, where he was director of the special education department from 1967 to 2003 and where he established the Diploma in Special Education. In 1961, he helped to establish the Teachers’ Study Group which conducted the first survey of reading comprehension in Dublin primary schools. He was a founding member of the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) of which he became president in 1975. He was joint author with Paul Andrews of the PSI policy document ''A Psychological Service for Schools'' (1975) and campaigned for many years for the establishment of a school psychological service. Eventually the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) was established as an agency of the Department of Education and Skills. He was also joint editor of the ''Irish Journal of Psychology''. He died on 29 November 2018 in Rathgar, Dublin.

Publications

*McGee, P. (1990). Special Education in Ireland. ''European Journal of Special Needs Education, 5(1),'' 48–64.

Awards

* 2012: Honorary Doctorate,

Dublin City University Dublin City University (abbreviated as DCU) ( ga, Ollscoil Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath) is a university based on the Northside of Dublin, Ireland. Created as the ''National Institute for Higher Education, Dublin'' in 1975, it enrolled its f ...

* Honorary Life Member, Irish Association of Teachers in Special Education * 2003: Allianz/Scoil Treasa Naofa Annual Award for Services to Education on the Island of Ireland

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:McGee, Páid 2018 deaths Irish psychologists 20th-century psychologists Psychology educators Health professionals from County Longford Alumni of University College Dublin Scholars and academics from County Longford Alumni of St Patrick's College, Dublin