The Quest for Modern Ireland

Bryan Fanning brings to life the battle of ideas and intellectual debates that shaped modern Ireland. The quest depicted here was one by Irish civil servants, clerics, economists, historians, poets, politicians, sociologists and writers to understand and face up to social, economic and political dilemmas. Though often presented as such, this was never a Manichean battle between authoritarians and liberals, conservatives and progressives or between religiosity and secularism. The Quest for Modern Ireland offers a unique and nuanced insight into Irish social, cultural, economic and political development through its focus on the debates fostered by five influential periodicals.