Queen's to carry out national identity study

A major project into national identity along the border is to be carried out by researchers from Queen's University.

The study, which is expected to begin later this year, will examine how the identity of those living in borders area is shaped and influenced by its presence.

Researchers based in the School of Psychology will initially work with 14-16 year olds in a bid to discover how teenagers build their nationality and what factors determine it. They will then look at the attitudes among their parents and grandparents.

Lead researcher, Dr Orla Muldoon, said they would be examining the impact of migration, emigration and the arrival of large multinational companies to the area.

"We want to see how those living along the border construct themselves as Irish, or British, or even something else," Dr Muldoon said. "Pilot studies have shown that some people are quite willing to 'swap' their nationality depending on the circumstances, while others are more entrenched.

"We'll be looking at the differences in rural and urban areas and how large multinationals, which employ local people, and increased border traffic has affected people's perception of their identity.

"And we want to examine the impact of the arrival of non-white, non-English speaking people into the region and what this does to people's ideas about their nationalities," she added.

The team have pinpointed four areas along the border – Dundalk in Co Louth, Newry in Co Down, Crossmaglen in south Armagh and Castleblaney in Co Monaghan - and will carry out similar research in counties Donegal and Tyrone.

The team, which includes Dr Karen Trew and Dr Katrina McLaughlin in the School of Psychology, will carry out the project in conjunction with colleagues from the Institute of the Study of Social Change in University College Dublin.

(MB)