Consuming Behaviours Ireland 1922-1960

Abstract

This thesis addresses consuming behaviours in Ireland 1922-1960. Few works have previously addressed the history of consumption in twentieth century Ireland, and this work aims to redress this lacuna. Consuming behaviours are defined as activities that revolve around the marketplace, but do not necessarily involve purchasing. 1922 was selected as the start point because it is the foundation year of the Irish Free State, and 1960 was selected as the end point primarily because of the manner in which the period has been presented by broader Irish historiography. The dominant meta-narratives on Ireland in this period emphasise economic backwardness, control by the Church and State, and ignorance of international trends and developments. This thesis seeks to re-examine these narratives and ask how relevant they are to understanding everyday life in Ireland by using consumer behaviours as a frame of analysis.

Together the chapters emphasise the agency of consumers and question how much control authorities, including the Church and State, were able to exercise over their behaviours. At the same time the limitations and restrictions affecting consumers are highlighted and discussed, but they are not given the often exaggerated significance found in some historiography. Frequent comparisons are drawn with other national contexts, both within and outside Europe, and the idea of Irish exceptionalism is repeatedly challenged. Most importantly the thesis argues for a reinterpretation of the dominant historiographical narratives on the era 1922-1960 and a more nuanced examination of everyday life during this time.