Paul O’Brien received his doctorate from the Department of History at Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick, where he lectures in the Academic Learning Centre.

In 2019, he published a monograph based on his PhD thesis: The Glynns of Kilrush, County Clare, 1811–1940: Family, business and politics (Four Courts Press).

He has just co-authored a new book entitled ‘Taprooms, Taverns and Alehouses: Limerick City Pubs, 1850-2024’. He is working on a new study about the suburban villas of Limerick City.

In 2016, Paul was a research fellow at Centre Culturel Irlandais, Paris. He is a member of the Council of Europa Nostra.

Paul is a recipient of the Military Heritage Trust of Ireland award for his research into recruitment practices during the First World War.

He has appeared on BBC and RTE television.