A Receipt of an Irish Supermarket - Sociology of a Country

A Receipt of an Irish SupermarketA Receipt of an Irish Supermarket- Sociology of a Country- Sociology of a Country



A Receipt A Receipt of an Irish of an Irish SupermarSupermar

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Sociology Sociology of a of a

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


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


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

relationship to the “centre”.relationship to the “centre”.


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The limitations of the independence The limitations of the independence – there is still a high degree of – there is still a high degree of dependence – as said from England. dependence – as said from England. It is the dependency in terms of It is the dependency in terms of foreign policies, the dependency foreign policies, the dependency from external factors and the from external factors and the dependency of external trade. dependency of external trade.


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


As much as they are encountered with As much as they are encountered with loving care – and fear – the hate is loving care – and fear – the hate is directed against the members of the directed against the members of the travelling community. travelling community.


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The strong Irish nationalism, including The strong Irish nationalism, including the reference of the English the reference of the English multinational TESCO who is multinational TESCO who is supposedly one of the “most Irish supposedly one of the “most Irish shops” – expressed for example by shops” – expressed for example by labelling of “shop streets” with Irish labelling of “shop streets” with Irish (and English) names. – Of course “and (and English) names. – Of course “and English” as otherwise nobody would English” as otherwise nobody would find the way. find the way.

Feoil ChocarailteCooked Meats

Im Agus GeireachaButter and Fats

IógartYoghurt

Frozen FoodsBia Reoite

Home CleaningGlantachán Baile


This is similar to what the Catholic Church did when This is similar to what the Catholic Church did when they gained the overhand in the pagan country. they gained the overhand in the pagan country. Leaving some – more or less important – pagan Leaving some – more or less important – pagan “symbols” to the people and “capturing their hearts “symbols” to the people and “capturing their hearts and spirit”. This gain of power by the Catholic and spirit”. This gain of power by the Catholic Church is, by the way, more or less recent and Church is, by the way, more or less recent and closely linked to the famine. closely linked to the famine.


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


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The € – it had been introduced The € – it had been introduced against “the Brits”, at least against “the Brits”, at least without them. without them.

€€


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


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


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


Of course, despite and with the modesty there Of course, despite and with the modesty there is the proud of Irishness, the proud of “our” is the proud of Irishness, the proud of “our” American Presidents as JFK and – as said – American Presidents as JFK and – as said – sometimes the nationalism of the Irish people. sometimes the nationalism of the Irish people.


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


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Back to the modern style of Back to the modern style of life. This mixes well with a life. This mixes well with a specific element of the Irish specific element of the Irish tradition. tradition.


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


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


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


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


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

the east of Ireland.the east of Ireland.


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The club – giving paternalism, The club – giving paternalism, clientelism and centralism a clientelism and centralism a human facehuman face


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


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


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The answer to subordination - The answer to subordination - Muintir na Tire – People of the Muintir na Tire – People of the CountryCountry

Canon John Hayes founded Muintir na Canon John Hayes founded Muintir na Tire in 1937Tire in 1937

The idea: Community Integration as The idea: Community Integration as answer on class challenges and answer on class challenges and contradictions.contradictions.


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


As new as many of the phenomenons are, As new as many of the phenomenons are, as strong is as well the link to some as strong is as well the link to some traditional patterns. traditional patterns.


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A Receipt of an Irish Supermarket - Sociology of a Country