Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explores the Irish Borderlands which offers an exploration of the nature and effects of the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland from the perspectives of those who have experienced it most directly in their everyday lives. It debates on the legitimacy of the border and challenges to its legitimacy often evoke concepts of long-established geographical and cultural regions that pre-date partition. The book frames discussion of these accounts of borderland lives and landscapes by outlining the political origins of partition. It explores competing historical and geographical perspectives on the relationship between the border and long standing patterns of regional diversity on the island. The book considers the contemporary configuration of the border, exploring recent approaches to the border that have emerged through recognition of shared borderland experiences, and addressing the nature of partitioned lives in the recent past and present.