Historical Geography of Ireland

This module charts the evolution of modern Ireland from the height of colonial expansion in the 17th Century, through the era of the landlords to the Act of Union, and through the Great Famine to the revolutionary period of the War of Independence and the creation of the Irish Free State. Historical geography focuses on the relationship between space and time and studies the people and events that have shaped the cultural landscape. This module examines the historical geography of Ireland through the prisms of colonialism and decolonialism and challenges the notion of Ireland as a 19th Century colony raising questions about this island's position within the British Empire. The module will focus on both urban and rural areas and discuss the importance of historical geography in understanding the contemporary Irish landscape. All students must attend a compulsory one day fieldtrip (the exact date will be confirmed in lectures at the start of trimester).