Brian Heffernan (1980) studied History in Leiden and Dublin and Catholic Theology in Utrecht (Tilburg University). He obtained his PhD in History from Maynooth University (2011) on a study of Catholic priests and political violence during the Irish War of Independence (1919-1921). He subsequently worked as a researcher for the Dutch Province of the Augustinian Order (2010-2013) and a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Antwerp (2011-2013). 