Ireland, superficially a Catholic nationalist,
agricultural country with a classless political sphere, has hidden depths that
contain strong undercurrents of (rural and urban) working-class culture and
politics, which have, and have had, significant impact beyond the confines of
class and country. To grasp the politics and culture of the Irish working
class, a comprehensive understanding of the key developments of the “long Irish
revolution” (c.a. 1880-1937), in which the modern Irish state and society took
form, is necessary.
This course, ‘the history of Irish Labour’ will
problematise the concepts ‘Irish’ and ‘labour’, will introduce the student to
the historiography of Irish (and international) organised Labour, and will
outline key events, controversies, and themes in the history of the Irish Labour
movement (broadly defined). By the end of the course, students should be able
to demonstrate an ability to write a clear, concise, analytical, and coherent
piece of historical writing grounded in Labour historiography with a cogent
underlying argument about some element of Irish working-class culture.
Students will be encouraged to read,
interrogate, and analyse extracts from history books, journal articles, pieces
of theatre, film, news media, songs, and ballads. Although grounded in history
and historiography, this course will encourage students to think critically
about elements of class, class consciousness, and class culture that are
illustrated and problematised by the Irish experience. It shall also encourage
students to consider commemorative iconography, historical memory, and popular
narrative about the past—how people in the present day draw comfort,
solidarity, and argumentative ammunition from stories, examples, actors, and
myths from the past.