210HIS2012: Politics and Society in 20th
century Ireland
Course Handbook
Undergraduate Course Information
Course Co-ordinator: Dr Marie Coleman
Course Team: Dr Elaine Farrell, Dr Fearghal McGarry, Dr Olwen Purdue
The Module and its Purpose
This module spans the course of twentieth-century Ireland. It begins by looking at economy
and society in Ireland in the opening years of the 20th century. It then looks at the period of
violence surrounding the final years of the Union, leading to the partition of the island with
the establishment of Northern Ireland and the setting up of a devolved administration in
Belfast, and the creation of the Irish Free State. The separate development of these two
regimes is then traced across the interwar period, though the Second World War and on to
the outbreak of renewed communal violence in Northern Ireland in 1969-70. The rocky
road to economic independence in the Republic of Ireland is also charted, culminating in
the phenomenon of the Celtic Tiger. The final lectures analyse the course of the ‘Troubles’
in Northern Ireland, ending with a discussion of the Good Friday Agreement.
The course aims at providing an overview of the principal developments in Irish political
history, while also taking into account economic and social change. In addition it aims at
giving students the opportunity, through essays, seminar discussion and private reading, to
engage more closely with selected topics. In a wider sense it attempts to develop skills in
identifying, collecting and assimilating information, in the organisation and assessment of
evidence, and in the effective oral and written presentation of arguments and conclusions.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this module, students should be able to demonstrate in examination
answers and seminar contributions:
 an ability to critically assess the role of the competing ideologies of nationalism and
unionism in shaping the history of twentieth-century Ireland;
 an analytical understanding of the relationship between economic and social change
and political developments;
 an appreciation of the key debates and issues in the study of twentieth-century Irish
history;
 effective communication skills.
Course Requirements and Assessment
This course is assessed through a combination of the following:
 1 end of semester exam (2 hours, 2 questions): 50%.
 1 x 3,500-4,000 word assessed essay: total 40%
 Tutorial participation / presentation: 10%.
Themes covered:
Politics and society at the turn of the century
War, revolution and partition
Social and economic change in modern Ireland
The two Irelands since 1945
General Reading
All students should buy one general textbook. There are many to choose from. We
recommend either:
Diarmaid Ferriter, The Transformation of Ireland (2004)
Alvin Jackson, Ireland, 1798-1998 (1999)
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