It’s Not Your Grandparents’ Ireland

While Ireland’s political class is happy to sell this vision of the country to American tourists—including the occasional president—in practice, it has methodically disassembled that Ireland.

When President Biden visited Ireland in April, he enjoyed the Emerald Isle’s timeless delights. His itinerary featured outings to a castle and a pub, along with traditional Irish music and Catholic landmarks like the Our Lady of Knock shrine and County Mayo’s St. Muredach’s Cathedral. The visit served a heavy dose of the idyllic and traditional, the Ireland of Biden’s grandparents and great-grandparents.  

While Ireland’s political class is happy to sell this vision of the country to American tourists—including the occasional president—in practice, it has methodically disassembled that Ireland.