ABSTRACT

The Republic of Ireland/Éire is an island off the northwestern tip of mainland Europe with a largely English-speaking population of approximately 4.5 million. Traditionally, cultural life in Ireland has been characterised by the centrality of Catholicism, the family, sport, music and alcohol. Although the power of Catholicism has waned considerably in recent years, these motifs of Irishness remain, albeit shaped and influenced by the effects of globalisation. Once a largely homogenous nation-state, in more recent times, Ireland has become increasingly racially, culturally and religiously diverse. Furthermore, in 2015 Ireland became the first country in the world to legalise marriage between same-sex couples by popular vote.