Dr Beatrice Doran was educated at Muckross and University College Dublin. A librarian by profession, Beatrice has worked in a number of libraries, including the Royal Dublin Society, the University of Ulster, the University College Cork and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland where she was Library Director. She is an Associate and former President of the Library Association of Ireland. Beatrice has a BA, a Diploma in Librarianship, an MBA and a Phd from University College Dublin. Local history and archaeology are particular interests of hers, and she was active in the Cork Historical & Archaeological Society as vice-president, council member and honorary organiser.