Narratives of Commemoration: Identity, Memory, and Conflict in Northern Ireland 1916–2016

Abstract

Identity differences have long driven the Northern Irish conflict. An important aspect of identity formation for Northern Ireland are the events of 1916 and the narratives that surround the yearly commemorations of the Easter Rising and the Battle of the Somme. For Republicans, the Easter Rising led to the creation of the first IRA and created a symbolic link to the Provisional IRA that was active during the Troubles. For Loyalists, the Battle of the Somme represents a significant loss and a special tie to a sense of Britishness that sustains the Loyalist community. For both communities, attempts to rewrite these narratives have generated new fears of cultural extinction, most especially for Loyalists, and led to a series of political clashes during the centenary commemorations in 2016. Historical commemoration in Northern Ireland continues to resist postconflict reconciliation and represents yet another venue for antagonistic, oppositional identities.