1. Department of Sociology
First Year, 2010-11
SO102 Modern Irish Society
Professor Seán Ó Riain
JH1, Tuesday 2pm and 3pm
Tutorials for this course will run from week 3 to week 10 and attendance is compulsory.
Contact Information:
3.6 Auxilia
Phone: 708-3688
Email: sean.oriain@nuim.ie
Office Hours: Tuesday 10.30-11.30 or by appointment
Overview
In this course we will explore the major features of contemporary Irish society. In a time of
crisis, we ask what kind of society is Ireland today? What are the ties that bind us together
within the society and the lines along which we are divided? What kinds of social relations
and institutions govern our behaviour, our economic well being, our beliefs and values, and
our sense of who we are? What kinds of person is it possible to be in Ireland today? How
has Ireland come to be organised in these ways? Does our politics allow us to make
democratic collective choices about the organisation of Irish society?
In the process of answering these questions, we also undertake the task of analysing the
structure and the processes that make up a ‘whole’ society. The focus of the course is on
this ‘macro’ organisation of Irish society, where most of the material you covered in first
semester modules addressed the link between individuals and the broader society. You will
therefore expand your ‘toolbox’ of sociological analysis, including how to interpret the kinds
of data that sociologists have used as evidence for their arguments about Irish society.
Finally, the module draws heavily (although not exclusively) on research done by staff in the
Department of Sociology at NUI Maynooth so you will also be introduced to the research
work of the department of which you are a part. Enjoy!
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2. In lectures we explore the key themes of the course, both through my own lectures and
through dialogue in the class. You should attend all lectures – the powerpoint slides will
NOT be a full summary of the lectures and our discussions. Please don’t hesitate to contact
me with any questions you might have.
Tutorials will focus on the analytical skills you need to carry out sociological analysis. The
tutorials in the Reading and Writing Sociology programme will use readings from the course
as a way to develop your skills in interpreting sociological readings, assessing the evidence
they use and evaluating the arguments that they build. They will also assist you in your
preparation for essay writing, in doing library research, and in reflecting on what you have
learned about your approach to being a sociologist. Finally, they will introduce you to some
of the kinds of evidence that sociologists use in their research – comparisons, statistics and
qualitative data like interviews and observations. The themes of the tutorials will be
introduced in lectures but will only be fully developed in tutorials. Further details on
tutorials are available in the course outline for the first year tutorial programme.
IMPORTANT NOTE: While you will be using readings from the course in your tutorials,
activities in tutorials will use these readings to develop your analytical skills. The primary
goal of tutorials is NOT to help you understand the course readings – it is to develop your
skills of critical thinking and sociological analysis. Of course, this should also add to your
understanding of the course reading material.
Goals of the Course
By the end of this course, you should
• Have a good understanding of the major features of contemporary Irish society
• Understand the main conceptual frameworks that seek to explain the nature of Irish
society
• Understand the variety of ways that societies are shaped and transformed
• Be able to apply the ‘sociological imagination’ to the analysis of the structures and
processes of a ‘whole society’
• Be able to interpret, explain and evaluate sociological readings and evidence
• Have a deeper understanding of your own uses of sociological thinking
Organisation of the Course
The course is organized into five main parts:
PART ONE: Irish Society through the Lens of the Crisis
PART TWO : Social Organisation
PART THREE: Economy and Society
PART FOUR: Culture and Social Change
PART FIVE: Politics and Society
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3. Readings
Moodle and Course Readings:
The course has a moderate reading load and you are expected to read all of the readings.
Almost all of the readings are available through the class website on moodle.
Further information on moodle will be available in lecture. It is well worth familiarising
yourself with moodle (https://moodle.nuim.ie/2011/ )
If you registered for this module, you will be automatically enrolled in the moodle site. If
not, you will need an enrolment key.
The enrolment key is rpvr475
Overview Texts:
The following books provide fairly recent overview accounts of Irish society:
Share, P., H. Tovey and M. Corcoran, 2007. A Sociology of Ireland Gill and Macmillan: Dublin
Fahey, T., H. Russell and C. Whelan, eds., 2007. Best of Times? The Social Impact of the Celtic
Tiger IPA: Dublin
O'Sullivan, S. , Ed. 2007. Contemporary Ireland: A Sociological Map Dublin: UCD Press.
There is a catalogue of qualitative research studies done in Ireland available through the
Irish Qualitative Data Archive (NUI Maynooth) here:
http://na-srv-1dv.nuim.ie/iqda/archive/collection/iqda:64
Much of the quantitative sociological research done in Ireland has been carried out through
researchers currently or formerly at the Economic and Social Research Institute. You can
search for their publications here:
http://www.esri.ie/publications/latest_publications/
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4. Irish Sociological Chronicles:
You should also find it useful to review the Irish Sociological Chronicles series, produced out
of the Department of Sociology here at NUI Maynooth:
P. Share and M.Corcoran (eds) 2010. Ireland of the Illusions IPA: Dublin
M. Corcoran and P. Share (eds) 2008. Belongings IPA: Dublin
M. Corcoran and M. Peillon (eds) 2006. Uncertain Ireland IPA: Dublin
M. Peillon and M.Corcoran (eds) 2004. Place and Non-Place IPA: Dublin
M. Corcoran and M. Peillon (eds) 2002. Ireland Unbound IPA: Dublin
E. Slater and M.Peillon (eds) 2000. Memories of the Present IPA: Dublin
M. Peillon and E. Slater (eds) 1998. Encounters with Modern Ireland IPA: Dublin
Journals:
The following journals contain a lot of useful sociological analysis of Ireland (as well as other
approaches and topics).
They can be accessed online through the Library’s e-journals service.
http://library.nuim.ie/electronic-resources/electronic-journals
Irish Journal of Sociology
Economic and Social Review (http://www.esr.ie/)
European Sociological Review (search for articles regarding Ireland)
Sociology (search for articles regarding Ireland)
There are of course, many more journals with good articles on Ireland.
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5. COURSE OUTLINE
PART ONE: Irish Society through the Lens of the Crisis
1st February
Ireland through the Lens of the Crisis
Here is a sampling of short pieces on blogs and in the popular press on different elements of
the crisis.
Rob Kitchin, Frank Macdonald, Kathy Sheridan and Michael Hennigan on developers:
http://theviewfromthebluehouse.blogspot.com/2009/11/review-of-builders-by-frank-
mcdonald.html
http://www.finfacts.ie/irishfinancenews/article_1015142.shtml
Rob Kitchin, David Murphy and Martina Devlin on Bankers:
http://irelandafternama.wordpress.com/2009/12/02/review-of-banksters-by-david-
murphy-and-martina-devlin-hachette-2009/
Elaine Byrne on Fianna Fail: http://elaine.ie/?p=832
Dearbhail McDonald and Shane Ross on regulation:
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/financial-crisis/if-fitzpatrick-lived-in-new-york-
hed---have-been-arrested-1605179.html
http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/neary-was-john-cleese-to-fawlty-towers-of-
irish-regulation-1598157.html
Paul O’Mahony on consumerism and hedonism:
http://www.herald.ie/opinion/how-celtic-tiger-era-fulled-a-violence-boom-2175461.html
Paul Krugman on neo-liberalism:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/08/opinion/08krugman.html
Breda O’Brien on ethics:
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2010/1120/1224283769687.html
Fintan O’Toole on elites:
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2010/1102/1224282482641.html
What kind of society is Ireland?
Peillon, M. 1994. “Placing Ireland in a Comparative Perspective” Economic and Social Review
25, 2, 179-195
Share, P., H. Tovey and M. Corcoran, 2007. ‘Sociology and Modernity’ pp. 7-22 in A
Sociology of Ireland Gill and Macmillan: Dublin
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6. 8th February
Ireland: A Brief Sociological History
Breen, R et al, 1990. Understanding Contemporary Ireland pp. 1-11, 101-122
Statistical overview (for reference):
CSO, 2009. Measuring Ireland’s Progress CSO: Dublin
http://www.cso.ie/releasespublications/documents/other_releases/2009/progress2009/me
asuringirelandprogress2009.pdf
CSO,2004 Ireland and the EU1973-2003:Economic and Social Change CSO: Dublin
http://eumatters.ie/getmedia/a6fbe03e-a168-4ac7-a6f9-f0903845761f/CSO-Ireland-and-
EU-Doc.aspx
PART TWO : Social Organisation
15th February
Community
Corcoran, M., J. Gray and M. Peillon, 2007. “Ties that Bind? The Social Fabric of Daily Life in
New Suburbs” pp. 175-198 in T. Fahey, H. Russell and C. Whelan, eds., 2007. Best of Times?
The Social Impact of the Celtic Tiger IPA: Dublin
Corcoran, M. 2008. “ Communities of ‘Limited Liability’” pp. 259-273 in M. Corcoran and P.
Share (eds.) Belongings IPA: Dublin
Slater, E. 2006. “The M50: A ‘Lugly’ Construct” pp. 143-156 in M. Corcoran and M.Peillon
Uncertain Ireland IPA: Dublin
* TUTORIAL 1: Comparative Analysis: What Kind of Society is Ireland?
Reading: Peillon, M. 1994. “Placing Ireland in a Comparative Perspective” Economic and
Social Review 25, 2, 179-195
15th February – Essay Titles distributed
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7. 22nd February
Class and Inequality
TASC, 2010. Mapping the Golden Circle TASC: Dublin
http://www.tascnet.ie/upload/file/MtGC%20ISSU.pdf
McCoy, S., D. Byrne, P. O’Connell, E. Kelly and C. Doherty Hidden Disadvantage ? A Study on
the Low Participation in Higher Education by the Lower Non-Manual Group HEA: Dublin pp.
161-171
http://www.esri.ie/UserFiles/publications/20100205141520/BKMNEXT146.pdf
Gray, Jane (2010) Poverty and the Life Cycle in 20th Century Ireland: Changing Experiences
of Childhood, Education and the Transition to Adulthood. Combat Poverty Agency.
http://eprints.nuim.ie/2002/
Background Reading - for overview of trends in income inequality and social mobility see:
Nolan, B. And B. Maitre, 2007. “Economic Growth and Income Inequality” pp. 27-42 in T.
Fahey, H. Russell and C. Whelan (eds.) Best of Times? The Social Impact of the Celtic Tiger
IPA: Dublin
Whelan, CT and R. Layte, 2007. “Opportunities for All in the New Ireland” pp. 67-86 in T.
Fahey, H. Russell and C. Whelan (eds.) Best of Times? The Social Impact of the Celtic Tiger
IPA: Dublin
See also the reviews of this volume at http://www.esr.ie/Vol39_2/04-Review.pdf
* TUTORIAL 2: ESSAY PREPARATION
1st March
Gender and Generations
Fahey, T. and C. Field, 2008. Families in Ireland Stationery Office: Dublin pp. 6-8 and 29-54
O’Hara, P. 1997. “Women on Family Farms – Wives, Workers and Mothers” Irish Journal of
Sociology 7: 124-130
Leonard, M.2009. “Helping with housework: exploring teenagers' perceptions of family
obligations” Irish Journal of Sociology 17, 1, 1-18
* TUTORIAL 3: Library research
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8. PART THREE: Economy and Society
8th March
Economic Globalisation
Ruane, J. 2010. 'Ireland's multiple interface-periphery development model: Achievements
and limits' In: Boss, Michael (eds). The Nation-State in Transformation: Economic
Globalisation, Institutional Mediation and Political Values. Aarhus: Aarhus University Press.
Murray, P. “Americanisation and Irish Industrial Development 1948-2008” NIRSA Working
Paper 42
http://www.nuim.ie/nirsa/research/documents/americanisationWP_000.pdf
O’ Brennan, J., 2010 (forthcoming), ‘Ireland and the EU: reflections on the experience of
membership’, in John Hogan (ed.), Ireland: Business and Society, Oaktree Press.
* TUTORIAL 4: Argument and Evidence
Reading: Corcoran, M., J. Gray and M. Peillon, 2007. “Ties that Bind? The Social Fabric of
Daily Life in New Suburbs” pp. 175-198 in T. Fahey, H. Russell and C. Whelan, eds., 2007.
Best of Times? The Social Impact of the Celtic Tiger IPA: Dublin
February 14th-18th : STUDY WEEK
22nd March
State and Development
Ó Riain, S. 2010. “Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory: Ireland Rediscovers Crisis”
pp.23-36 in P. Share and M.Corcoran (eds) Ireland of the Illusions IPA: Dublin
Kirby, P. 2010. The Celtic Tiger in Collapse Palgrave pp. 1-10
* TUTORIAL 5: Comparing and Contrasting Arguments
Reading: Ó Riain, S. 2010. “Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory: Ireland Rediscovers
Crisis” pp.23-36 in P. Share and M.Corcoran (eds) Ireland of the Illusions IPA: Dublin
Kirby, P. 2010. The Celtic Tiger in Collapse Palgrave pp. 1-10
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9. PART FOUR: Culture and Social Change
29th March
Nationalisms: Who are ‘We’?
Fahey, T., B. Hayes and R.Sinnott, 2005. “Identity” pp. 57-86 in Conflict and Consensus IPA:
Dublin
Conway, B. (2008) “Local Conditions, Global Environment and Transnational Discourses in
Memory Work: The Case of Bloody Sunday (1972)” Memory Studies 1, 2, 187-209.
http://eprints.nuim.ie/940/
* TUTORIAL 6: Quantitative Analysis
Reading: Fahey, T., B. Hayes and R.Sinnott, 2005. “Identity” pp. 57-86 in Conflict and
Consensus IPA: Dublin
31st March – ESSAY DUE
5th April
Migration: Who are ‘They’?
Ruane, Joseph (2010) 'Ethnicity, religion and peoplehood: Protestants in France and in
Ireland'. Ethnopolitics, 9 (1):121-135.
Ni Laoire,C. 2009. “Complicating host-newcomer dualisms: Irish return migrants as home-
comers or newcomers” Translocations 4, 1
http://www.translocations.ie/Vol_4_Issue_1_Caitriona_Ni_Laoire.doc
King- O’Riain, R. 2006. “Re-racialising the Irish state through the census, citizenship and
language” pp. 275-293 in A. and R Lentin (eds) Race and State Cambridge Scholars Press
http://eprints.nuim.ie/506/1/re_racialising.pdf
* TUTORIAL 7: Qualitative Analysis
Reading: Ni Laoire,C. 2009. “Complicating host-newcomer dualisms: Irish return migrants
as home-comers or newcomers” Translocations 4, 1
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10. 12th April
‘Modern’ Values?
Fahey, T., B. Hayes and R.Sinnott, 2005. “Religion” pp. 30-56 in Conflict and Consensus IPA:
Dublin
Inglis, T. 2008. “Ballivor” pp. 195-248 in Global Ireland: Same Difference Routledge
* TUTORIAL 8: Essay reflection and Exam Preparation
18th-25th April: Easter Holiday
PART FIVE: Politics and Society
26th April
Networks and Publics
Komito, L. 1992. “Brokerage or Friendship? Politics and Networks in Ireland” Economic and
Social Review 23, 2, 129-145 http://www.ucd.ie/lkomito/broker.htm
Larragy, J. and B.Bartley, 2007. “Transformations in Governance” In B. Bartley and R. Kitchin
(eds) Understanding Contemporary Ireland Pluto Press
Ó Riain, S. 2006 “The University and the Public Sphere after the Celtic Tiger” Maynooth
Philosophical Papers http://eprints.nuim.ie/555/
Social Movements: Inside or Outside the State?
Cox, L. 2006. “News from Nowhere: The movement of movements in Ireland” chapter 10 in
In Niamh Hourigan and Linda Connolly (eds.), Social Movements and Ireland. Manchester:
Manchester University Press
http://eprints.nuim.ie/457/1/Social_movements_and_Ireland_book.pdf
Cullen, P. 2008. “Irish Women’s Organisations in an Enlarged Europe” in S. Roth Gender
Politics in the Expanding European Union: Mobilization, Inclusion, Exclusion Berghahn Books
http://books.google.com/books?
hl=en&lr=&id=Q5RRr4K_HTAC&oi=fnd&pg=PA83&dq=pauline+cullen+european&ots=ni8dA
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11. m7Eoa&sig=CxLNuVmsRKTI2Z9M6YM2w92GGkY#v=onepage&q=pauline%20cullen
%20european&f=false
3rd May
Social Bargains
Coulter, C. and M. Murray, 2008. “Northern Ireland after the Troubles : An Introduction to
the Book” Chapter 1 in Coulter, C. and M. Murray (eds.) Northern Ireland after the Troubles?
A Society in Transition Manchester University Press
Kirby, P. and M.Murphy 2008. A Better Ireland Is Possible Community Platform
http://communityplatform.ie/uploads/A%20Better%20Ireland%20-%20pdf.pdf
Beyond Economic Crisis?
O’Brennan, J. “Ireland’s Existential Crisis: A Contrary View” Open Democracy website
http://www.opendemocracy.net/john-obrennan/ireland%E2%80%99s-existential-crisis-
contrary-view
Coulter, C. “The country is broke”
http://politico.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6955:qthe-country-is-
brokeq&catid=253:the-country-is-broke&Itemid=1060
Kerr, A. Interview with Aphra Kerr on the Irish games industry.
http://www.komplettblog.ie/8475/irish-games-industry-aphra-kerr-interview/
Article at:
http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=all~content=a915796655~frm=abslink
Ó Riain, S. ‘Stimulus for Development’
http://www.progressive-economy.ie/2009/03/stimulus-for-development.html
Kitchin, R. “Haunted by past mistakes”
http://irelandafternama.wordpress.com/2010/08/01/haunted-by-past-mistakes/
Gray, J. “NAMA and the Public Sector: What’s the Connection?”
http://irelandafternama.wordpress.com/2010/04/14/nama-and-the-public-sector-whats-
the-connection/
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