Irish identity is far from ideal

This article presents a sociological analysis of current Irish identity using two strands of globalization theory: regressive nationalism and glocalization. It is submitted that Irish society in multicultural, globalized 2009, in the aftermath of the Celtic Tiger and the economic crisis lacks an appropriate sociological "ideal" which Emile Durkheim considers necessary for societal self-reflection. It applies this originally religion orientated theory of “ideals” to identity analysis, arguing that the extremely diverging "ideals" by which Irish people currently struggle to identify themselves - The Irish Paddy and the Irish Cosmopolitan - are both detached from the reality of current Irish identity which is reconstructing itself through a hybrid process of regressive glocalization, negotiating the impact of globalization to preserve the ‘old Irish spirit’. It is therefore proposed that a new "ideal" of Irish identity should be constructed around Irish returning emigrants, which combines cosmopolitan and globalisation ideals with “idyllised” Irish values of community, kinship and sense of humour.