Personal profile
Biography
Patrick O'Callaghan teaches Jurisprudence and Tort Law and is currently Principal Investigator in the Law and the Inner Self Project (2022-2026), funded by a Research Ireland (Consolidator) Laureate Grant. You can learn more about this research here.
He joined UCC in 2014, having previously lectured at Newcastle University, UK (2007-2014). Before that, he was a researcher at the Centre for European Law and Politics (ZERP), Universität Bremen, Germany (2004-2007).
Patrick's background is in the legal protection of personality rights, as that field is conceptualised in the civilian private law tradition. This has led to an interest in theories of selfhood and questions about the role personality rights can play in safeguarding the opacity of the self. In this context, he has researched aspects of privacy law, the right to freedom of thought, the relationship between law and memory, including the right to be forgotten, the right to honour and reputation, and the historical development of personality rights. In contextualising his doctrinal research, Patrick draws on the methodologies of the field of law and humanities.
Teaching Activities
Module coordinator of LW1106 (Torts I) and LW3367 (Jurisprudence)
Research Interests
Personality Rights, Law and Humanities, Tort Law, Comparative Private Law
UCC Futures (primary)
- Collective Social Futures
Other research affiliations
- UCC Futures - Future Humanities Institute (incl. RHL)
PhD Supervision
- Available for PhD supervision
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
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- 1 Similar Profiles
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The Right to Honour and Reputation as a Human Right for the Mind
O'Callaghan, P., 2026, (Accepted/In press) The Cambridge Handbook of Human Rights for the Mind: Emerging Technologies, Law and Philosophy. Dore-Horgan, E., Ligthart, S., Meynen, G. & Kellmeyer , P. (eds.). Cambridge University PressResearch output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedings › Chapter › peer-review
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The Right to be Forgotten and the Media
Benziger, F. & O'Callaghan, P., 2026, (Accepted/In press) Research Handbook on Privacy and Confidentiality in Media Law. Witzleb, N., Richardson, M. & Clifford, D. (eds.). Edward Elgar PublishingResearch output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedings › Chapter › peer-review
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Law and everyday forgetting: Preserving the opacity of the inner self
O'Callaghan, P., 3 Apr 2026, In: Pólemos: Journal of Law, Literature and Culture. 20, 1, p. 69-89Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Privacy 6.0: Privacy as Mental Integrity
O'Callaghan, P. & Shiner, B., 2026, The Law and Ethics of Freedom of Thought, Volume II: Cognitive Liberty, Mental Privacy, and International Law. Bublitz, J. C. & Blitz, M. J. (eds.). Palgrave Macmillan, p. 93-115 (Palgrave Studies in Law, Neuroscience, and Human Behavior ).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedings › Chapter › peer-review
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The Cambridge Handbook of the Right to Freedom of Thought
O'Callaghan, P. (Editor) & Shiner, B. (Editor), 13 Mar 2025, Cambridge University Press. 393 p.Research output: Book/Report › Book › peer-review
Press/Media
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17 Jan 2025 UCC early-career researchers recognised in the Researcher of the Year 2024 awards
Wasiewska, L., Cryan, J. F., Lim, A., O'Callaghan, P. & Hill, C.
17/01/25
1 item of Media coverage
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Early career researchers receive prestigious Research Ireland funding
Wasiewska, L., Cryan, J. F., Schneider, E., Russell, E., O'Callaghan, P., Chakravarty, D., Ozcan Atar, A., Bergin, M., Kuresangsai, P. & Todd, N.
30/10/24
1 item of Media coverage
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-University College Cork : UCC celebrates excellence in research and innovation
Popovici, E., Becker, K., Nyhan, M., Daly, H., O'Dwyer, C., Cryan, J. F., O'Neill, M., Mccarthy, S., Griffin, B., Shao, H., O'Callaghan, P., O'Dwyer, J., Maguire, A., Kowalski, P., O'Riordan, A., Lucey, S., Coffey, A., Ross, R. P. & Atkins, J. F.
5/06/23
2 items of Media coverage
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UCC celebrates excellence in research and innovation
Popovici, E., Becker, K., Nyhan, M., Daly, H., O'Dwyer, C., Cryan, J. F., O'Neill, M., Griffin, B., Shao, H., O'Sullivan, J., O'Callaghan, P., O'Dwyer, J., Maguire, A., Kowalski, P., O'Riordan, A., Lucey, S., Coffey, A., Ross, R. P. & Atkins, J. F.
2/06/23
1 item of Media coverage
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-University College Cork : UCC awarded EUR3.1 million funding for groundbreaking research
Cahill, M., Cryan, J. F., MacCarron, M., Cuffe, J., O'Callaghan, P., Ouyang, X. & Kiseeva, K.
11/10/22
2 items of Media coverage
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