Interesting review of Kiberd and Longley’s collection of essays, Multi-culturalism: the View from the Two Irelands raises a number of questions about current (and changing) notions of Irishness North and South, though it’s Kiberd’s work that seems to have gripped the reviewer more than Longley’s. This on the McCarthy Keane standoff at last year’s World Cup preparations in Saipan:
“What might have remained a ‘mere’ sports story became a raging cultural debate because Keane impugned Mick McCarthy�s Irishness! As it happens, McCarthy originally hails from Yorkshire and, like several other team members born to Irish parents, grew up in England. By extension, if McCarthy didn�t make the cut as an authentic Irishman, then neither did several of Keane�s teammates who also play for the Irish national squad. Keane seemed oblivious to the irony of his own peculiar position. The 30-year midfielder, who calls Cork home, currently captains one of Europe�s most storied professional soccer teams, Manchester United, and thus lives for much of the year in England where he represents the British team.”
Mick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty
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