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

Paperback / softback

Main Details

Title Representing Magic in Modern Ireland: Belief, History, and Culture
Authors and Contributors      By (author) Andrew Sneddon
SeriesElements in Magic
Physical Properties
Format:Paperback / softback
Pages:75
Dimensions(mm): Height 229,Width 152
Category/GenreBritish and Irish History
Religion and beliefs
Religion - general
Occult studies
Mysticism, magic and ritual
ISBN/Barcode 9781108949279
ClassificationsDewey:820.99415
Audience
General
Illustrations Worked examples or Exercises; Worked examples or Exercises

Publishing Details

Publisher Cambridge University Press
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publication Date 19 May 2022
Publication Country United Kingdom

Description

This Element argues that Ireland did not experience a disenchanted modernity, nor a decline in magic. It suggests that beliefs, practices and traditions concerning witchcraft and magic developed and adapted to modernity to retain cultural currency until the end of the twentieth century. This analysis provides the backdrop for the first systematic exploration of how historic Irish trials of witches and cunning-folk were represented by historians, antiquarians, journalists, dramatists, poets, and novelists in Ireland between the late eighteenth and late twentieth century. It is demonstrated that this work created an accepted narrative of Irish witchcraft and magic which glossed over, ignored, or obscured the depth of belief in witchcraft, both in the past and in contemporary society. Collectively, their work gendered Irish witchcraft, created a myth of a disenchanted, modern Ireland, and reinforced competing views of Irishness and Irish identity. These long-held stereotypes were only challenged in the late twentieth-century.