Colonialism, religion and nationalism in Ireland

Abstract

"Colonialism, religion and nationalism are three of the life forces of modern Irish history. This collection of essays explores different dimensions of these formative influences from the seventeenth century onwards but with particular reference to the nineteenth century. A unifying theme is the relevance of the economic, be it at the level of people's beliefs and expectations or at the level of the workings of the Irish economy." "The opening essay traces the fortunes of Protestant communities in the Irish Midlands from their colonial origins in the 1610s through to 1926. The Union of Britain and Ireland was betimes celebrated and execrated: the second essay evaluates the various claims and counter-claims. This is followed by an exploration of the economic ideas of the great national leader, C. S. Parnell, whose critique of the Union was unwavering. Two further essays assess the role of the Roman Catholic church in the functioning of the economy, particularly the rural economy. This discussion is complemented by a review of agrarian politics, and its changing character in the late nineteenth century. The penultimate essay takes up the question, raised mainly by literary critics: is Ireland a post-colonial society?" "It is important to look beyond Ireland: to escape from claustrophobic comparisons with England; to place Ireland within the context of continental European history. This is attempted explicitly in the final chapter. This comparative perspective helps challenge ethnocentric ideas that the Irish historical experience was uniquely troubled, painful and oppressive."--BOOK JACKET.

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