Ireland of the Illusions: A Sociological Chronicle 2007-2008 offers a timely reality check. Established and upcoming Irish sociologists reflect on the recent economic crash. Why did it happen, who is to blame and how has it bled into tourism, the environment, sport and the landscape? Examining the illusory quality of Celtic Tiger Ireland, they inspire us to look again at a time that encouraged mass-delusion over self-reflection.
Ireland of the Illusions: A Sociological Chronicle 2007-2008 explores many of the core values that define contemporary Ireland. Provocative essays scrutinise the greed of the housing boom, the voyeurism of the mass media, the drift towards a surveillance society, the clash between nature and society and the denial of the class and gender dimensions of social inequality. Together they present a trenchant and insightful snapshot of a society moving from enchantment to disillusion.