National Identity Hollowed-Out: Irish National Identity 100 Years After Independence

Abstract This article examines the transformation of Irish national identity 100 years after independence, focusing on the phenomenon described as the “hollowing out” of national identity. While symbolic markers such as the Irish language and Catholicism remain central to the concept of Irishness, their associated practices have significantly declined. Similarly, the civic dimensions of national identity, including citizenship and respect for political institutions, have weakened amidst increasing individualization and social fragmentation. Drawing on data from the International Social Survey Programme (ISSP) and Census records, this paper highlights the contrasting consequences of these changes: the decline of ethnic markers has contributed to liberalization and tolerance, as evidenced by recent constitutional reforms, but the erosion of civic identity poses risks to democratic legitimacy and social cohesion in an increasingly diverse society. By analysing these trends, the article sheds light on the dynamic interplay between symbolic continuity and the shifting lived realities of national identity in modern Ireland.