Exhibiting Irishness

WINNER of the Michael J. Durkan Prize for Books on Language and Culture 2025 (American Conference for Irish Studies) Honourable mention for the Donald Murphy Prize for Best First Book 2024 'Exhibiting Irishness is a groundbreaking work that is essential reading for anyone interested in Irish history, visual and material culture, art, ethnic and racial studies, and gender studies. Ultimately, it reveals the fragility, ambivalence and relationality of Irishness—something constantly (re)negotiated, questioned and affirmed in line with societal, historical and political changes. The book, thus, has the potential to transform our understanding of exhibitions and their role in (re)constructing and promoting Irishness' —Rise Journal 'Akhtar explores Ireland’s participation in exhibitions and world fairs as vehicles for expressing fluid cultural, political, and economic Irish identities from 1850 to 1970 within the context of Ireland's relationship with the British Empire and the wider global economy... This book contributes to the study of Ireland, national identity and nationalism, and fairs and exhibitions.' —Recommended by CHOICE ‘An original and ambitious book that unites several important strands in Irish Studies through an engaging examination of the packaging and repackaging of Irish culture for international consumption.’ —Michael de Nie, University of West Georgia ‘It exemplifies the richness of transdisciplinary enquiry for the expanded field of Irish studies, and is particularly impressive in its scope and breadth of source material.’ —Emily Mark-FitzGerald, University College Dublin -- .