Education
MacEoin studied English Language and Literature at the University of Dublin (Trinity College) and Persian, Arabic and Islamic Studies at the. He carried out research for his Doctor of Philosophy degree at King"s College, Cambridge. His Doctor of Philosophy dissertation dealt with two heterodox movements in 19th-century Iranian Shi"ism: Shaykhism and Bábism.
From 1979-1980, he taught English, Islamic Civilization, and Arabic-English translation at Mohammed V University in Fez, Morocco, resigning from the University shortly after commencing employment there.
MacEoin claims the resignation was due to disputes over contract changes, working environment and payment for his services as a Lecturer. In 1986, he was made Honorary Fellow in the Centre for Islamic and Middle East Studies at Durham University.
He was the Royal Literary Fund Fellow, assisting with academic writing at Newcastle University from 2005–2008,
MacEoin is a pro-Israel campaigner (he first visited the country in 1968), who says he has "very negative feelings" about Islam.
