Editors | Carr, J., Parnell, D., Widdop, P., Power, M.J. and Millar, S.R. |
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Abstract | National pride is closely allied to political symbols, and Northern Irish society serves as an exemplar of how sport and politics are inextricably linked in the popu- lar imagination. Armstrong and Mitchell (2001: 140) point to the role that social activities such as sporting events play in reinforcing a sense of national pride. However, in a divided society, even the most basic symbols can become contentious and be used as a vehicle for asserting ownership over the cultural terrain of a state. Northern Ireland is politically and demographically divided between the Christian denominations of Catholic and Protestant within a context where ‘reli- gious ascription has typically been seen as coterminous with national identity,’ and Catholics see themselves as Irish rather than British (Nagle, 2012: 3). This means that there is significant support within the Northern Irish Catholic community that support the Republic of Ireland’s football team. This is a consequence of identifying with the notion of Ireland as a singular entity, which is more reflective of their long-held political aspiration of a united Irish state. As such, loyalty to the Northern Irish football team is seen as lukewarm at best. |
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