Civilising rural Ireland

This electronic version has been made available under a Creative Commons (BY-NC-ND) open access license. The introduction of co-operative societies into the Irish countryside during the late-nineteenth century transformed rural society and created an enduring economic legacy. Civilising rural Ireland challenges predominant narratives of Irish history that explain the emergence of the nation-state through the lens of political conflict and violence. Instead the book takes as its focus the numerous leaders, organisers, and members of the Irish co-operative movement. Together these people captured the spirit of change as they created a modern Ireland through their reorganisation of the countryside, the spread of new economic ideas, and the promotion of mutually-owned businesses. Besides giving a comprehensive account of the co-operative movement's introduction to Irish society the book offers an analysis of the importance of these radical economic ideas upon political Irish nationalism.

Patrick Doyle

Introduction 1 The origins of co-operation in Ireland 2 A civilisation among the fields 3 Ireland in the new century 4 Co-operation and life during wartime 5 The co-operative movement and the War of Independence 6 A Co-operative Commonwealth in the Free State? Conclusion Bibliography Index