This electronic version has been made available under a Creative Commons (BY-NC-ND) open access license. The introduction of co-operative societies into the Irish countryside during the late-nineteenth century transformed rural society and created an enduring economic legacy. Civilising rural Ireland challenges predominant narratives of Irish history that explain the emergence of the nation-state through the lens of political conflict and violence. Instead the book takes as its focus the numerous leaders, organisers, and members of the Irish co-operative movement. Together these people captured the spirit of change as they created a modern Ireland through their reorganisation of the countryside, the spread of new economic ideas, and the promotion of mutually-owned businesses. Besides giving a comprehensive account of the co-operative movement’s introduction to Irish society the book offers an analysis of the importance of these radical economic ideas upon political Irish nationalism.

This title was first published in 2002: As rural Ireland undergoes deep-reaching changes, this book critically assesses what the author terms the "renegotiation of rural development" in Ireland through the repackaging, reproduction and representation of suggestions, ideas and alternatives for rural renewal. Deconstructing the process and practice of rural development in Ireland, the author explores the new approaches to development and the so-called desire for creating integrative policy and planning approaches. The main conduits for this investigation are those of partnership and community groups and their involvement in rural development issues. Further, through investigation of the relevant concepts and theories of rural change, the volume delves into the discourses of rurality and development and utilizes the diversity of approaches and understanding of, this increasingly complex issue.