John Bosco Conama is an Irish academic, activist, and leading figure in Deaf studies and language rights. He is currently an Associate Professor and Director of the Centre for Deaf Studies at Trinity College Dublin. Notably, he became the first Deaf person in Ireland to be elected a Fellow of Trinity College, marking a historic milestone in Irish academia [4].
Early Life and Education
Dr. Conama hails from Clooneygrasson, a rural area in Ballintubber, County Roscommon. He was the youngest of eleven children in a farming family. At age four, he began his education in a school for the Deaf in Dublin, where he acquired Irish Sign Language (ISL) as his first language [4]. Despite leaving school early, he later returned to complete his Leaving Certificate and pursued higher education, eventually earning a BA in Social Policy, an M.Litt. from Trinity College Dublin, and a Ph.D. in Equality Studies from University College Dublin, where his thesis examined language policy in Finland and Ireland [1][2][4].[1]
Academic career
Dr. Conama has had a long and influential academic career. He is currently Associate Professor at the Centre for Deaf Studies in Trinity College Dublin, where he has played a pivotal role in developing Deaf studies as a discipline. He co-directed the establishment of Ireland’s first academic certificate course designed specifically for Deaf students, in partnership with the Equality Studies Centre at UCD [2].
His research focuses on Deaf Cultural Studies, Equality Studies, Media Studies, Social Policy, and Deaf Education. He has made significant contributions to understanding the social and political dimensions of Deaf identity, language rights, and community sustainability. His work often employs community-based and ethnographic methodologies, such as focus groups and interviews, ensuring deep engagement with the Deaf community [1].
Leadership and Advocacy
Conama has authored influential works on ISL and language policy, such as "35 Years and Counting! An Ethnographic Analysis of Sign Language Ideologies within the Irish Sign Language Recognition Campaign" and "In Search of ISL's Pre‑History", contributing to recognition of ISL as a legitimate, rich language with deep roots in Irish Deaf history [5][6].
As Chair of the Irish Sign Language Recognition Campaign and former Chairperson of the Irish Deaf Society, he was a key leader in the successful advocacy for ISL's legal recognition through the Irish Sign Language Act 2017—which was enacted in late 2017 and came into force in December 2020 [1][2][7].
Leadership and service
Conama has held numerous leadership roles within the Deaf community. He served as Chairperson, Secretary, and Board Member of the Irish Deaf Society (IDS) from 1986 onwards [5]. He is currently Chair of the Irish Sign Language Recognition Campaign, which was instrumental in the successful passage of the Irish Sign Language Act in 2017—a landmark legal recognition of ISL as the third official language of Ireland [3][4][5].
In addition to his national advocacy work, Dr. Conama serves on the Disability Advisory Committee of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and has led initiatives such as the Cross-Community Group monitoring ISL Act implementation [1]. He has also been involved in collaborative research projects with Deaf associations in Cork and Kerry aimed at improving public services through Deaf awareness audits [1].
Recognition and Impact
Dr. Conama was named Language Ambassador of the Year 2015 by Leargas / Erasmus+ for his contributions to the promotion and preservation of ISL [2][3]. He has twice been nominated for the Teaching Excellence Award at Trinity College, in 2017 and 2024 [1].
His election to Trinity Fellowship in 2024 was not only a personal milestone but a broader symbol of progress for the Deaf community in Ireland and internationally. As he noted, “this Fellowship is not only a recognition of scholarship but also of sustained contribution to the life of the college and to broader society” [4].
Political Candidacy
In 2020, Conama became the first Deaf person to be nominated to the Seanad (Senate) in the history of the Irish State. His nomination was jointly supported by the IDS and Chime, the national charity for Deafness and hearing loss, in recognition of his lifelong commitment to Deaf rights and inclusive policy [5].
- Trinity College Dublin. (n.d.). Dr. John Conama.
- ISL Research Forum. (n.d.). John Bosco Conama.
- Trinity College Dublin. (2023, October 13). Talk: Dr John Bosco Conama on Irish Sign Language.
- McGovern, C. (2025, May, 14). Roscommon native makes history with Trinity Fellowship. Roscommon Herald.
- Neville, S. (2020, February, 24). Dr John Bosco Conama the first deaf Seanad nomination in State's history. Irish Examiner.
