Dr Gráinne Treanor PhD | Non-fiction | Education | Academic |Theology | General interest

Trading name
Gráinne Treanor

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I have been a professional proofreader and editor since July 2013, working mainly in the non-fiction area, especially education (theory, practice, philosophy, course materials, policy, training, methodology) and theology and religion. I am a former lecturer in moral theology and medical ethics and have a PhD in moral theology (my area of research was the search for a 'universal ethic' across different religious traditions). I have over ten years’ experience in teaching in second level schools and in higher education. In the higher education sector, my teaching duties included the supervision and assessment of students writing research papers/dissertations and the design and delivery of teaching modules in moral theology and related topics.

Following a break from paid employment during my children’s pre-school years, I built on my teaching experience and on further studies in proofreading and editing with the Publishing Training Centre (PTC) and the Society for Editors and Proofreaders (SfEP, now the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP)). I have proofread and copyedited academic books and papers for journals, publishers, and independent authors. I have also edited website content in several sectors, including education, news, religion/theology, and commercial services.

My areas of special interest and experience are education (theory, psychology, philosophy. methodology, research, textbooks, special needs education), social studies, theology/religion/spirituality, psychology, and lifestyle. I am familiar with the primary and second-level school curriculum in Ireland and keep up to date with curricular changes.

I occasionally offer a basic proofreading service to writers of theses/dissertations, subject to approval by their educational institutions.

You may contact me by email: [email protected].

Examples of work undertaken

Books
(E = editing; P = proofreading)

Anne Hession, Catholic Primary Religious Education in a Pluralist Environment, Veritas, 2015 (P)

Annelies Kamp and Majella McSharry (eds), Re/Assembling the Pregnant and Parenting Teenager: Narratives from the field, Peter Lang, 2018 (E)

Brian Conway, Sacred Callings: An eventful analysis of the global Catholic priesthood, Helsinki University Press (forthcoming 2025) (E)

Bruce Robertson, The Teaching Delusion: Why teaching in our schools isn’t good enough (and how we can make it better), John Catt Educational, 2020 (and books 2 and 3 of this series, 2021) (E)

Caroline Renehan, Openness with Roots: Education in religion in Irish primary schools, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2014 (E)

Chris Curtis and Fiona Folan, Ready to Teach: The strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, John Catt Educational, 2023 (E)

Colman Noctor, The 4-7 Zone:  An easy and effective way to live a balanced life – and stay out of the therapist’s office, Gill Books, 2023 (E)

David Hare, The Great Lighthouses of Ireland, Gill Books, 2022 (P)

Francis Brennan, The Homekeeper’s Diary 2023, Gill Books, 2022 (P)

Gordon McMillan, Course and Speed Made Good: The Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers 1974–2014, The Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, 2014 (E)

Graham Ramsden, The Bully in the Greenhouse: Exploring why children bully others and what schools can do about it, John Catt Educational, 2020 (E)

Haili Hughes, Preserving Positivity: Choosing to stay in the classroom and banishing a negative mindset, John Catt Educational, 2020 (E)

Ilpo Helén et al. (eds), Genome Finland: From rare diseases to data economy, Helsinki University Press, 2023 (E)

Jackie Day, Faith in Phonics series, sets 1 and 2 (phonics), Redemptorist Publications, 2022 (E)

Jared Cooney Horvath and David Bott, 10 Things Schools Get Wrong: And how we can get them right, John Catt Educational, 2020 (E)

Jim McManus and Bill Horton, Talking about Jesus, Redemptorist Publications, 2020 (E)

John Tomsett and Jonny Uttley, Putting Staff First: A blueprint for revitalising our schools, John Catt Educational, 2020 (E)

Keith Barry, Sleep Hacks: Discover the life-changing tranquillity of deep sleep, Gill Books, 2024 (P)

Lesley Woods and Ortrun Zuber-Skerritt (eds), Shaping the Future of Higher Education: Positive and sustainable frameworks for navigating constant change, Helsinki University Press, 2024 (E)

Lorraine Cooney, Why You Can’t Go ..., Gill Books, 2024 (E)

Matshediso Modise et al. (eds), Global Perspectives on Leadership in Early Childhood Education, Helsinki University Press, 2023 (E)

Oliver Lovell, Tools for Teachers: How to teach, lead and learn like the world’s best educators, John Catt Educational, 2022 (E)

P.J. Casey et al., Irish Doctors in the Second World War, Merrion Press, 2024 (P)

Patrick J.M. Durcan (self-published), Thomas Durcan 1866–1927: Mayo merchant, councillor and family man, 2018 (E)

Regina Polak (ed.), Religious and Non-Religious Narratives on Migration (forthcoming 2025) (E)

Regina Polak and Patrick Rohs (eds), Values – Politics – Religion: The European Values Study (Philosophy and Politics Critical Explorations, Vol. 26), Springer, 2023 (E)

Sarah Davies, Talking about Oracy: Developing communication beyond the classroom, John Catt Educational, 2020 (E)

Stuart Pryke and Amy Staniforth, Ready to Teach: A Christmas Carol, 2022 (E)

Stuart Pryke and Amy Staniforth, Ready to Teach: Macbeth, John Catt Educational, 2020

Sue Cowley, Learning Behaviours: A practical guide to self-regulation in the early years, John Catt Educational, 2020 (E)

Suzanne Guerin, Nóirín Hayes and Sinéad McNally (eds), Research and Evaluation in Community Settings: Experiences from practice, Routledge, 2018 (E)

Papers/magazines/reports/book contributions:

Copyeditor since 2021 of 25, the biannual publication of the Specialty Coffee Association

Kevin Williams, papers and chapters including ‘Oakeshott and the complex ecology of the moral life’, Cosmos and Taxis 1(3): 27–34; ‘The folly of nationalist politics: Michael Oakeshott on the revival of Irish Studies’, The Irish Quarterly Review 103(410): 147–58; ‘Learning to Love the World: The Educational Experience of John McGahern’, in John McGahern: Authority and Vision, Zeljka Doljania and Máire Doyle (eds), Manchester University Press, 2017

Martin Brown, Gerry McNamara and Joe O’Hara, School Inspection in a polycentric context: the case of Northern Ireland (a report)

Sabrina Fitzsimons, papers on teacher educator well-being

Other papers for several of the above clients and others

Textbooks/resources:

Juliana Gilbride (updated by Paula McCullough), The Acts of the Apostles, 1 Corinthians, Galatians and Ephesians, 2nd edition, Colourpoint Educational, 2017

Science Solutions and Graphic Solutions (student workbooks and e-books), DCG Solutions, 2020

Theresa Heffernan, Revisewise Science (junior cycle), Edco, 2020.

Coursebooks: for professionals working in retail banking and insurance.

Workbooks, manuals, resources and reports for Tallaght West Childhood Development Initiative (2018 and ongoing). Topics include housing, literacy, restorative practice, and emotionally based school avoidance

Dissertations: mainly in the area of primary and second level teaching, the education of teachers and nurses, education for children with additional needs (e.g. ADHD, autism).

Media

Books, multi-author books, educational materials, distance-learning materials, journals, theses and dissertations, manuals, websites/blogs, newsletters, PowerPoint presentations

Experience

Self-employed editor and proofreader since 2013

Former higher education lecturer (Moral theology)

Former second level teacher (Religious studies)

Training

Mastering Fiction Editing: A Comprehensive 3-Part Course with Niamh Mulvey (Publishing Ireland, 2025)
Efficient Editing: Strategies and Tactics (CIEP) 2024
Non-Fiction Developmental Editing (CIEP) 2023
Editorial Project Management (CIEP) 2023
Copyright for Editorial Professionals (Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP)) 2021 Rewriting and Substantive Editing (Publishing Training Centre (PTC)) 2018
Adobe InDesign CC, Parts 1 and 2 (New Horizons Computer Learning Centre/Publishing Ireland (2018) Brush Up Your Grammar (SfEP) 2018
Practical Mark-up of PDFs (SfEP) 2017
Basic Editing by Distance Learning (Publishing Training Centre (PTC)) 2017
Writing and Editing for the Web (PTC) 2016
Advanced Copy-Editing (PTC) 2015
Editing in Word (PTC) 2015
On-Screen Editing 1 and 2 (SfEP) 2015
Copy-Editing Skills (PTC) 2014
Certificate in Basic Proofreading (PTC) 2014

Clients

Current and previous clients include:

Colourpoint Educational, Newtownards, Northern Ireland

Dublin City University (DCU)

Dr Annie Ó Breacháin, School of Arts Education and Movement, Institute of Education, DCU

Dr Kevin Williams, Senior Research Fellow, School of Education, DCU

Dr Majella McSharry, School of Human Development, Dublin City University (DCU)

Dr Regina Murphy, Assistant Professor, School of Arts Education and Movement, Institute of Education,

Dr Regina Polak, Professor of Practical Theology and Head of the Department for Practical Theology of the Catholic Theological Faculty of the University of Vienna

Dr Sabrina Fitzsimons, Co-Director of CREATE—The Centre for Collaborative Research Across Teacher Education, and an Assistant Professor of Education in the School of Policy and Practice at the Institute of Education, DCU

Dr Shivaun O’Brien, Assistant Professor, School of Policy and Practice, Institute of Education, DCU

Dr Suzanne Guerin, Associate Professor of Research Design and Analysis, University College Dublin (UCD)

Edco

Gill Books

Helsinki University Press

Mary Immaculate College, Limerick

John Catt Educational (now with Hachette Learning)

Merrion Press/Irish Academic Press

Redemptorist Publications

Tallaght West Childhood Development Initiative (Tallaght, Dublin 24)

University of Vienna

Subjects

Education (primary, secondary, tertiary, teacher training, educational theory and research, philosophy of education, educational psychology, textbooks and e-learning resources, special needs education including autism, educational policy and planning, resources)
Religion (theology, comparative religions, ethical/moral issues, ecumenical/interfaith studies)
Sociology (society, justice, equality, social theory)
Personal development/lifestyle (bereavement, childcare, counselling, disability skills, advocacy)

Qualifications

BA Religious Science
MA Religious Science
PhD Moral Theology

Testimonials

Gráinne is a fantastic proofreader with a forensic eye for detail. As important, she takes a real interest in what she is reading and has a genuine desire to help make authors’ work better. Her suggestions are clear, constructive and helpful. I can’t recommend her highly enough. Bruce Robertson, author of The Teaching Delusion, John Catt Educational, 2020, its two sequels, and Power Up Your Pedagogy (2023).

***

Dr Gráinne Treanor is simply outstanding at proofreading and editing. I do not believe that anyone could do this work better and I recommend her wholeheartedly and without reservation to students and scholars. Dr Kevin Williams, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Evaluation, Quality and Inspection, Dublin City University.

***

I am deeply impressed by Gráinne's work. What particularly impresses me is that she seems not just to be doing a trade, but is also very committed. I learn a lot from her explanations, questions and comments, especially the nuances of English words. I am really looking forward to our ongoing cooperation! It fits wonderfully. Dr Regina Polak, Associate Professor at the Department of Practical Theology, University of Vienna, Austria, and Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Combating Racism, Xenophobia and Discrimination, also focusing on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians and Members of Other Religions.

***

As a first-time writer, I was nervous about the editorial process and what an editor would think of what I’d produced, but Gráinne was so positive, supportive and reassuring. Gráinne’s suggestions and ideas not only ensured our book was the best it could be but showed that she took a real, genuine interest in the contents of the manuscript. I would jump at the chance to work with Gráinne again. Her commitment is outstanding, and I know I’m a better writer as a result of what I’ve learnt from her. Stuart Pryke, co-author (with Amy Staniforth) of Ready to Teach: Macbeth, John Catt Educational, 2020 and Ready to Teach: A Christmas Carol, John Catt Educational, 2021.

***

Gráinne was an absolute joy to work with. She guided me seamlessly through the process of editing my first book, acting constantly as a reassuring critical friend and providing brilliant timely feedback, suggestions and ideas about how we could work collaboratively to improve the book. Not only that, but her care and attention to the specific content and topic of the book made sure that it is the very best version of itself it could be. I would love to work with Gráinne again on future projects, knowing that my work was in the very safest pair of hands. Amy Staniforth, co-author (with Stuart Pryke) of Ready to Teach: Macbeth, John Catt Educational, 2020 and Ready to Teach: A Christmas Carol, John Catt Educational, 2021.

***

It was a pleasure to work with Gráinne, who is an absolute expert in her field. I not only ended up with a grammatically correct, flawlessly spelt manuscript, I learnt some things about spelling, punctuation and grammar that I did not know – and I am an English teacher! John Tomsett, co-author (with Jonny Uttley) of Putting Staff First, John Catt Educational, 2020.

***

Gráinne’s proofreading skills greatly enhanced the presentation of my book, Catholic Primary Education in a Pluralist Environment. I would recommend her very highly as she is meticulous in her attention to detail and exceptionally easy to work with. Anne Hession, author of Catholic Primary Education in a Pluralist Environment(Dublin: Veritas, 2015) and Lecturer in Religious Education at St Patrick’s College, DCU.

***

There are excellent proofreaders and editors and then there are outstanding proofreaders and editors. Having employed the services of Dr Gráinne Treanor in the recent past, I have no reservation in stating that the work of Dr Treanor can clearly be categorized as the latter.

I offer as an example my latest book, Openness with Roots: Education in Religion in Irish Primary Schools (Newcastle Upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2014). This hardback academic work required not only proofreading and editing but also great skill in terms of format and structure. Dr Treanor’s attention to detail, her care of my work, her ability, her patience and her very significant skill at every level were remarkable. At times, I relied on her to communicate with Cambridge Scholars Publishing on my behalf, where it was evident to me and to the publishing company that they were dealing with an exceptional professional. Dr Treanor also made a number of suggestions to me as to how I might improve the quality of my style of writing. She took the trouble to check my research, where relevant, and she offered advice beyond the remit of what I would have expected. I should also add that this particular book was launched by the then Minister for Education and Skills in Ireland, Mr Ruairi Quinn. At the launch, Mr Quinn not only launched the book with the usual critique expected, but also remarked very positively on its layout and structure, including the fact that he could not find even one typographical error.

***

I have strongly recommended Dr Treanor to a number of my academic colleagues and indeed to non-academic writers as well. I take great satisfaction in knowing that, should I publish again, I need never search for another proofreader/copyeditor. If Dr Treanor is busy, any future publications I may have will be suspended until she is available. Dr Caroline Renehan, former Head of Religious Education, St Patrick’s College, DCU and author of Openness with Roots: Education in Religion in Irish Primary Schools (Newcastle Upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2014).

Gráinne was recommended to me by a friend who said that ‘getting Gráinne to proofread your thesis will be the best money you spend on your doctorate’. My friend was right!!! Getting Gráinne to proofread my work was a godsend. After the long slog of writing up a 60,000 word thesis, it was such a relief at the very end to hand it over to fresh eyes for proofreading. It gave me some free time to clear my head and I felt more confident submitting my thesis knowing that it had been professionally proofread by Gráinne. The whole process was very easy and Gráinne was lovely to deal with. She is friendly, professional and efficient and I would highly recommend her services. Maria Mc Mahon, EdD student, University of Lincoln.

• Editor
• Proofreader

• Body, mind & spirit
• Diet & nutrition
• Education & training
• English as a second language
• English literature
• Environment & nature
• Health, fitness & wellness
• Humanities
• Narrative non-fiction
• Psychology & psychiatry
• Religion & theology
• Self-help
• Social sciences
• Social work
• Sociology

• Writing