CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2022
| Author | McCarthy, Clare |
|---|---|
| Title | Remember, Reflect, Reimagine: The 2016 State Commemorations of the Easter Rising in Ireland and Abroad |
| Summary | The 1916 Easter Rising was a turning point in Irish history, triggering an era of changes and turmoil that would result in the creation of the first Irish State. It has become enshrined in both collective memory and the State’s own self-narrative as a moment of almost mythic ideological magnitude. Consequently, commemoration of the Rising often results in clashes of contested meaning and “ownership.” Contemporary socio-political conditions have had a profound influence on these processes; Ireland 2016, the State programme launched to the Rising’s centenary, was no exception. This thesis examines the Irish State’s centenary commemorations of the Rising and how it “re-packaged” 1916 for the Ireland of 2016. It argues that the State attempted to update its model of remembrance by incorporating previously neglected women’s histories of the Rising, giving greater historical contextualisation to the event, and improving public accessibility via digitisation. It also argues that Ireland 2016 was, nonetheless, a typical instance of state sponsored history. Increasing globalisation, the experience of austerity, and changed relations with Britain guided the State’s commemorative approach as it sought to reimagine Irish national identity in a way that would meet present concerns. The thesis will conclude with a brief survey of public responses to the commemoration. |
| Supervisor | Neves, José Manuel Viegas |
| Department | History MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2022/mccarthy_clare.pdf |
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