A Receipt of an Irish Supermarket - Sociology of a Country

1. A Receipt of an Irish Supermarket- Sociology of a Country

2. A Receipt of an Irish Supermarket- Sociology of a Country

3. A Receipt of an Irish Supermarket- Sociology of a Country

4. As short as the receipt, as short is the history of Irish independence – and even this independence is still overshadowed by the fights and struggles and troubles particularly in the North. But the long lasting and far-reaching dependence is a matter coining very much attitudes and perceptions as well in the South; in actual fact it is a matter that shapes – for many times unconsciously, and that means as well: deeply engraved – people’s feelings. A Receipt of an Irish Supermarket- Sociology of a Country

5. A Receipt of an Irish Supermarket- Sociology of a Country • A history of conquests – and it had not been only a history of conquests by the English, but as well for instance the Spanish, French – only the Romans refused, seeing the Island as Hibernia. What, however, they finally did is that they occupied the country. And in turn – this should never be forgotten – this lead to many Irish people who said “What is good against the English is good and has to be supported”. The support for German fascism during WWII is a sad result of this.

6. A Receipt of an Irish Supermarket- Sociology of a Country • This is connected with the peripheral character of the country – for many times seen as colony; having in the context of the EU-debate on welfare systems basically the same position as what is called the “Latin-rim states”. This is well reflected as well in the debate of world systems theory, where Ireland is interpreted in Wallerstein’s terms as “peripheral”, defined not in own terms but by the relationship to the “centre”.

7. The limitations of the independence – there is still a high degree of dependence – as said from England. It is the dependency in terms of foreign policies, the dependency from external factors and the dependency of external trade. A Receipt of an Irish Supermarket- Sociology of a Country

8. A Receipt of an Irish Supermarket- Sociology of a Country • It is perhaps here that we should talk about the meaning of myths and legends, a certain way of seclusion even. Elves, dwarfs, witches – stories about leprechauns who hide themselves in Lios and destroy the harvest and devastate an entire area are even today of at least symbolic importance.

9. A Receipt of an Irish Supermarket- Sociology of a Country • As much as they are encountered with loving care – and fear – the hate is directed against the members of the travelling community.

10. The strong Irish nationalism, including the reference of the English multinational TESCO who is supposedly one of the “most Irish shops” – expressed for example by labelling of “shop streets” with Irish (and English) names. – Of course “and English” as otherwise nobody would find the way. A Receipt of an Irish Supermarket- Sociology of a Country Feoil Chocarailte Cooked Meats Im Agus Geireacha Butter and Fats Iógart Yoghurt Frozen Foods Bia Reoite Home Cleaning Glantachán Baile

11. A Receipt of an Irish Supermarket- Sociology of a Country • This is similar to what the Catholic Church did when they gained the overhand in the pagan country. Leaving some – more or less important – pagan “symbols” to the people and “capturing their hearts and spirit”. This gain of power by the Catholic Church is, by the way, more or less recent and closely linked to the famine.

12. A Receipt of an Irish Supermarket- Sociology of a Country • The charitableness, as it is expressed in the “special offers”, in particular the fact that food which reached the display date is sold for half of the usual price – it is charity which actually doesn’t cost anything; it doesn’t hurt the good-doer.

13. The € – it had been introduced against “the Brits”, at least without them. A Receipt of an Irish Supermarket- Sociology of a Country €

14. A Receipt of an Irish Supermarket- Sociology of a Country • The unspectacular way of “Irishness”, the modesty. Political protest comes along with violence; but it comes as well along with simply doing something without talking about it. The € had been introduced and it may well have been a little bit as well a protest against “the Brits”. And in the same way the Irish people gave birth to famous writers and musicians, to a rich culture – James Joyce just being on of the Nobel Prize winners. And his fame was not least due to the fact that he was an outlawed in a society of outlawed.

15. A Receipt of an Irish Supermarket- Sociology of a Country • Part of this modesty is a fish salesperson, travelling with a little van from house to house in the countryside and en passent he talks well educated about literature and just en passent he mentioned James Joyce and perhaps even more en passent that this well honoured writer, the winner of the Nobel Prize, which had at that time been a real award was a close relative of his family.

16. And part of the outlawing character had been a somewhat strange harshness, producing its own beauty. Recently I heard a not quite serious research idea: The Weather in Ireland and its Effect on the Irish Social Development – a Historical Analysis. The proposed title: Misery. And in actual fact, the limitations and subordination of Irish people in various social and ecological terms had been the seedbed for some forms of greatness. Much of the cultural gain and achievement can be characterised as being based on retreat. A Receipt of an Irish Supermarket- Sociology of a Country

17. A Receipt of an Irish Supermarket- Sociology of a Country • Of course, despite and with the modesty there is the proud of Irishness, the proud of “our” American Presidents as JFK and – as said – sometimes the nationalism of the Irish people.

18. A Receipt of an Irish Supermarket- Sociology of a Country And in this sense – as “father of the big brother” – one is open to what one thinks is – and gets presented as being – the modern style of life alias the American style of life. This has huge implications for the relationship to Europe, i.e. the EU as well. Despite many peculiarities it is very much a matter of pragmatism.

19. Back to the modern style of life. This mixes well with a specific element of the Irish tradition. A Receipt of an Irish Supermarket- Sociology of a Country

20. A Receipt of an Irish Supermarket- Sociology of a Country • Ready-to-serve meal, “prepared veggies” – it has been a country of “serving”. And apparently the change now is that one enjoys being served. It is the development * from serving the old English ruling class* to serving the new Irish ruling class * to serving everybody in the Irish tiger economy – the supposed modernity.

21. A Receipt of an Irish Supermarket- Sociology of a Country • And it mixes with an attitude which seems to me historically meaningful as well: The easiness in spending money one has, a way of carefreeness. Spend what you have. It may well be that otherwise somebody comes to take it from you without any justification.

22. Mind: the persistence (and revival) of the perspective of the deserving poor in the welfare system; a system based on donation and mercy. And of course, it had been and still are always the weakest who had to serve, not least the women in a male dominated society. A Receipt of an Irish Supermarket- Sociology of a Country

23. A Receipt of an Irish Supermarket- Sociology of a Country • The system of granting discount, combined with the “Clubcard”. This is very much a matter of simple public relations. But it as well the attempt to maintain a kind of community spirit. And as such it is closely linked to old mechanisms of social integration. The overcome spirit of the English clubs gleams through.

24. A Receipt of an Irish Supermarket- Sociology of a Country • And it is this peculiar way of divide et impera. As it can be seen in a room in a College – it is called “Common room”, alluding to some form of public property. And at the same time it is one of these adorable conservative-elitist institutions. And coming back to the receipt: despite the Clubcard it is as well the collection of points for a special offer of “Marqui by Waterford” – somewhat a contradiction in terms: Royalty (be it French or English and “Irishness”, symbolised by the famous Crystal from the east of Ireland.

25. The club – giving paternalism, clientelism and centralism a human face A Receipt of an Irish Supermarket- Sociology of a Country

26. A Receipt of an Irish Supermarket- Sociology of a Country • The opening hours – including the Sunday. One may ask for the opinion of the church. But the Church accepted pagan symbols and pagans as Saints to secure western power and of course to secure the own power. And in the same way it accepts this modern symbol of paganism – dancing around the golden calf is not different if the calf is changing its appearance: the calf with the face of nowadays the Euro.

27. A Receipt of an Irish Supermarket- Sociology of a Country • But these long opening hours are as well closely connected with (a) the self-exploitation of the small shop keeper and (b) the shop as a “community institution” in the small village. For many times shops have had a kind of co-operative character in and for the village.

28. The answer to subordination - Muintir na Tire – People of the Country Canon John Hayes founded Muintir na Tire in 1937 The idea: Community Integration as answer on class challenges and contradictions. A Receipt of an Irish Supermarket- Sociology of a Country

29. A Receipt of an Irish Supermarket- Sociology of a Country • Internet shopping – a matter of changing patterns – and the effort of creating “new communities”. It is in general interesting how villages changed and had been changed: Existing as villages, being further developed around shopping centres – centres, owned by supermarkets; and regaining strength as village after such an “overhaul”. – And still, the old cornershop did not have to give up.– Yet?

30. A Receipt of an Irish Supermarket- Sociology of a Country • As new as many of the phenomenons are, as strong is as well the link to some traditional patterns.

31. Slàn Abhàile A Receipt of an Irish Supermarket- Sociology of a Country Go náire an mbhothair leat!