Representing Magic in Modern Ireland: Belief, History, and Culture

In Ireland, beliefs, practices, and traditions concerning witchcraft and magic developed and adapted to modernity, creating an accepted narrative of Irish witchcraft and magic that glossed over, ignored, or obscured the depth of belief in witchcraft. This work reinforced competing views of Irishness and Irish identity, only challenged in the late twentieth-century.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 75 pages
Publication date: 19 May 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

This Element contends that Ireland did not undergo a disillusioned modernity or a decline in magic. Instead, it proposes that beliefs, practices, and traditions related to witchcraft and magic evolved and adapted to modernity to maintain cultural relevance until the end of the twentieth century. This analysis sets the stage for the first comprehensive examination of how historians, antiquarians, journalists, dramatists, poets, and novelists in Ireland portrayed historic Irish trials of witches and cunning-folk between the late eighteenth and late twentieth century. It is evident that this body of work established a widely accepted narrative of Irish witchcraft and magic, which either glossed over, ignored, or obscured the profound belief in witchcraft both in the past and in contemporary society. Collectively, their workgendered Irish witchcraft, perpetuated a myth of a disenchanted, modern Ireland, and reinforced competing perspectives on Irishness and Irish identity. These long-held stereotypes remained unchallenged until the late twentieth century.

Weight: 146g
Dimension: 152 x 228 x 10 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108949279