The Environmental Movement in Ireland

About this book

Collective responses to Ireland's dramatic transformation from a primarily agrarian and rural society to an industrialised economy obsessed by rapid growth and development occurred in two phases:

Phase One took place between the "No Nukes" protests of the late 1970's when campaigns targeted multinational plants or infrastructural projects perceived as a pollution threat during years of economic stagnation.

Phase Two occurred after economic buoyancy was achieved, as the demands of rapid growth threatened communities, the environment and Irish heritage in the face of major infrastructural projects such as roads, incinerators and gas pipelines.

Starting with the Woodquay protests in Dublin, the "No Nukes" protests at Carnsore Point, the "Shell to Sea" campaign in Mayo and the campaign to save Tara from destruction, these significant ecological campaigns, based on the community's localised sense of place or rural sentiment, have formed the response to these challenges which are analysed here using social movement theories such as resource mobilisation, political opportunity, framing and event analysis.

Contents

Foreword.- Preface.- Acknowledgements.- Acronyms.- Politics: The Environmentalism Debate.- Irish Environmental Activism: From Woodquay to the 'Celtic Tiger'.- The Environmental Protection Agency and the Irish Green Party.- Communities: Rural Sentiment and the Irish Environmental Movement.- Rural Sentiment as Ecological Capital.- Understanding Collective Action.- Campaigns -- Phase One: No Nukes: Carnsore Point.- The Anti-Toxics: Movement.- Mining: Tynagh and Donegal.- Campaigns -- Phase Two: Conservation: Mullaghmore.- Anti-Incineration: Galway, Meath and Cork.- Resources: The Rossport 5 (Shell to Sea).- Roads: Glen of the Downs, Carrickmines and Tara.- Conclusion: Mapping the Consequences of Environmental Activism.- Bibliography.- Index.

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