Maureen Gaffney

Dr. Maureen Gaffney (born 1947) is an Irish clinical psychologist, broadcaster, writer and columnist.

Gaffney was born in 1947 in Midleton, County Cork. Educated there in St Mary's High School the Presentation Convent, she was the first in her family to go to university and she graduated with a B.A in Psychology from the University College Cork. Her brother John followed her in her choice of study. Gaffney got a scholarship in 1974 which allowed her to get her masters in Behavioural Sciences from the University of Chicago. She returned to Ireland to gain her PhD from Trinity College Dublin. Gaffney spent twenty years working for the Irish Eastern Health board before taking on writing columns and beginning a radio career.

She has held a number of academic positions.Gaffney has been the Director of the Doctoral Programme in Clinical Psychology in Trinity College Dublin and as Adjunct professor of Psychology and Society in University College Dublin. Gaffney has also held a number of government roles including being a member of the Board of the Health Service Executive and Executive Chairman of the National Economic and Social Forum.Gaffney is a member of the Women’s Leadership Board of Harvard Kennedy School. She is married to John Harris, lives in Dublin and has two children.