Ireland Now: Tales of Change from the Global Island

by William Flanagan

Ireland Now is an accessible guide to understanding how Ireland and the Irish people have changed during the past fifteen years. Largely as a result of the country's rapidly expanding economy, Ireland has been transformed from one of the poorest to one of the richest countries in the European Union. William Flanagan uses personal, first-hand stories from a wide range of Irish citizens, including the elderly, farmers, people in small towns and rural areas, and new immigrants, to illustrate how various segments of the population are coping with a shifting social landscape. Flanagan skillfully weaves his stories of real people together to reflect themes of promise and loss attached to economic upheaval, the struggle to maintain traditional ways in the face of new social and moral orders, the effort to adapt to a country with an enhanced place in the world economy, and the challenge of remaining at home as the meaning of home becomes forever changed. Based on years of Flanagan's personal experience and careful research in Ireland, this important book examines the nature of Irish character and the fusion of tradition and change. It will appeal to anyone with an interest in Ireland and Irish identity.

288 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2007

Reviews

[Sheehan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heading to Ireland with a friend who hasn't been back in almost a decade, married a close American friend, and has been staying put here in the States getting his citizenship; now we get to join him for his grand homecoming.

I figured this book, based almost exclusively on the title would be a good introduction into what to expect...and to be fair this book published in 2007, was still chronicling the ascent of the financial wunderkind & Celtic Tiger, where recent events have seen some humbling along with the rest of the world economies, so I am excited to see how some of the issues Flanagan addresses like immigration and rising costs are now playing out against increasing scarcity of resources.

Flanagan's sociological insights into space and place, and the notions of "home" were really engaging, and the brief exposition on American expats relationship to the history-making of the Irish as we see them from this shore was informative.

I'd recommend this book for anyone planning a trip over the pond.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

(I copyedited this book for University of Notre Dame Press.) The author includes many fascinating stories of people in Ireland, including first-generation Irish (children of immigrants from many countries, including India). For an academic book, it's something of a breezy read--enjoyable, enlightening, even entertaining. And the author also has some serious things to say about Ireland's record economic growth in the early years of the twenty-first century that provide a good perspective to his American audience.