We Don't Know Ourselves: A Personal History of Modern Ireland

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A celebrated Irish writer offers a brilliantly insightful chronicle of the wrenching transformations that reshaped his homeland. Fintan O'Toole, born in 1958 as the revolution began, witnessed the Irish government open the country to foreign investment and popular culture in response to the mass emigration of young people. This initiated a decades-long experiment with Irish national identity. Weaving his personal experiences into the narrative, O'Toole illustrates how Ireland transitioned from a reactionary "backwater" to an almost completely open society, marking one of the most astonishing national transformations in modern history. Raised in a working-class family in Dublin, he was captivated by American Westerns on Irish television, reflecting a changing cultural landscape. O'Toole recounts the collapse of the once-dominant Catholic Church, driven by scandal and grassroots activism, particularly from women. He also addresses the violence of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, which led many to reject violent nationalism. The influence of America is a recurring theme, from John F. Kennedy's visit in 1963 to the rise of the Irish technology sector in the late 1990s, which ultimately contributed to the 2008 financial crisis. O'Toole's compassionate yet critical observations reveal the Irish habit of "deliberate unknowing," allowing national myths to persist amid crumbling foundations. This landmark work intertwines memoir and n