Over the past decade or so, Irishness has emerged as an idealized
ethnicity, one with which large numbers of people around the world,
and particularly in the United States, choose to identify. Seeking
to explain the widespread appeal of all things Irish, the
contributors to this collection show that for Americans, Irishness
is rapidly becoming the white ethnicity of choice, a means of
claiming an ethnic identity while maintaining the benefits of
whiteness. At the same time, the essayists challenge essentialized
representations of Irishness, bringing attention to the
complexities of Irish history and culture that are glossed over in
Irish-themed weddings and shamrock tattoos.Examining how Irishness
is performed and commodified in the contemporary transnational
environment, the contributors explore topics including Van
Morrison's music, Frank McCourt's writing, the explosion of
Irish-themed merchandising, the practices of heritage seekers, the
movie The Crying Game, and the significance of red hair. Whether
considering the implications of Garth Brooks's claim of Irishness
and his enormous popularity in Ireland, representations of Irish
masculinity in the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, or
Americans' recourse to a consoling Irishness amid the racial and
nationalist tensions triggered by the events of September 11, the
contributors delve into complex questions of ethnicity,
consumerism, and globalization. Ultimately, they call for an
increased awareness of the exclusionary effects of claims of
Irishness and for the cultivation of flexible, inclusive ways of
affiliating with Ireland and the Irish. Contributors. Natasha
Casey, Maeve Connolly, Catherine M. Eagan, Sean Griffin, Michael
Malouf, Mary McGlynn, Gerardine Meaney, Diane Negra, Lauren Onkey,
Maria Pramaggiore, Stephanie Rains, Amanda Third
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