ABSTRACT
History, as we all know, is a fiercely contested terrain in Northern Ireland. The incommensurable character of nationalist and unionist narratives of history and identity provides the cultural dynamic of the current political conflict. Of any interpretative institution in Northern Ireland – museum, heritage centre or cultural traditions’ exhibition – we can ask, ‘Whose heritage is it celebrating?’ This is a society well used to the partisan celebration of cultural identity, whether in Orange demonstrations or republican commemorations. How then does the heritage sector in Northern Ireland deal with the bitter fruits of Irish history? Can the production of a shared version of history through its heritage presentation play a part in reconciling the contemporary sectarian divisions which bedevil Northern Ireland society?
