Dr Thomas Mc Grath is a historian, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Registrar of Carlow College. He is the senior academic officer of the College. A graduate of UCD he holds two doctorates, and is the author of a three volume study of Bishop James Doyle of Kildare and Leighlin (JKL) which won the Irish Historical Research Prize of the NUI. He is an editor of three volumes in the County: History and Society series: Tipperary, Kildare, and Carlow. He has taught at UCD, Maynooth and TCD. Research and teaching interests are in International and European history, the long history of Antisemitism and the Holocaust. He is from The Park, Ballingarry, in South Tipperary.

In Ballingarry he initiated the Young Ireland 1848 and National Flag monument in The Commons. He started the successful campaign to save Famine Warhouse 1848 as a state national heritage site. He is the author of the historical exhibition in the house museum, scene of the 1848 Rising during the Great Famine.  In 2006 he began the annual ‘Famine 1848 Walk’ on the last Saturday in July from The Commons to Famine Warhouse 1848. In 2017, the state National Famine Commemoration was held at  Famine Warhouse 1848. In 2022 he inaugurated an annual  Climb of Slievenamon on the third Sunday in July celebrating the history, heritage and environment of one of Ireland’s most famous mountains.