The Making of Irish Traditional Music challenges the notion that Irish Traditional music expresses an essential Irish identity, arguing that it was an ideological construction of cultural nationalists in the nineteenth century, later commodified by the music and tourism industries. As a social process, musical performance is complicated by the varying experiences of musicians and listeners. The question of an Irish identity expressed musically is explored through an analysis of the experiences of both local and foreign musicians, including the author, in County Clare. It explores Irish traditional music's relationships with place and with gender. The conclusion that a radicalised ideal of national culture and an assimilative model of cultural contact are compatible has important implications for Irish society today.

CONTENTS

Introduction: Foreign Bodies in the River of Sound

Chapter One: When Smiling Eyes are Tearful: The making of Irish music

Chapter Two: The Morning Dew: Irish dance music's journey through the tradition

Chapter Three: Regional Styles: Locating a place in the Irish tradition

Chapter Four: Musical Pilgrims: Seeking authenticity in the west of Ireland

Chapter Five: Lovely Girls and Good Men: Woman and the fraternity of Irish music

Chapter Six: The Session: Idealising musical communities

Afterword: Music in the New Ireland