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REMEMBERING PASTS AND REPRESENTING PLACES:THE CONSTRUCTION OF NATIONAL IDENTITIES IN IRELAND

1997; Elsevier BV; Volume: 17; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1006/jevp.1996.0037

1522-9610

Patrick Devine‐Wright, Evanthia Lyons,

Participatory Visual Research Methods

This paper examines the role played by historical places in the construction of national identities. It uses data from a sample of 105 Irish adults randomly selected from the members of the three main political parties and those of organisations concerned with the promotion of the Irish language. In particular, it examines the symbolic significance of historical places in maintaining a positive, distinctive national identity and providing a sense of continuity with the past. It is shown that the kind of values and feelings associated with the four Irish target places (namely, the General Post Office, Trinity College, Newgrange and Glendalough) relate to the significance of the places in maintaining national identity. The implications of these results for the literature on place, social memory and national identity are discussed.