The Wearing of the Green A History of St Patrick's Day [Hardcover]

The full history of St. Patrick's day is captured here for the first time in The Wearing of the Green.

Illustrated with photos, the book spans the medieval origins, steeped in folklore and myth, through its turbulent and troubled times when it acted as fuel for fierce political argument, and tells the fascinating story of how the celebration of 17th March was transformed from a stuffy dinner for Ireland's elite to one of the world's most public festivals.

Looking at more general Irish traditions and Irish communities throughout the world, Mike Cronin and Daryl Adair follow the history of this widely celebrated event, examining how the day has been exploited both politically and commercially, and they explore the shared heritage of the Irish through the development of this unique patriotic holiday.

Highly informative for students of history, cultural studies and sociology, and an absolute delight for anyoneinterested in the fascinating and unique culture of Ireland.

1. Introduction  2. Evolution of St Patrick's Day  3. Famine and Exodus  4. Visualising Ireland: Nationalism and Diaspora  5. Contesting Ireland: Republicanism and Militarism  6. Proclaiming Ireland: Independence and Empire  7. Modern Times, Troubled Times  8. Reinventing St Patrick's Day  9. ConclusionMike Cronin graduated with a Ph.D. in history from Oxford University in 1994. He is currently Accademic Director for Centre of Irish Programmes at Boston College, Dublin. Cronin has a particular interest in the study of twentieth-century Irish history, as well as the politics of sport in Irish history. He is author of The Blueshirts and Irish Politics(1997), Sport and Nationalism in Ireland(1999) and A History of Ireland(2001).
Daryl Adair graduated with a Ph.D. in lÓL