"Rethinking Irish History" offers a critical analysis of the construction of Irish national identity in a historical context. The authors illuminate how this identity was invented and codified by a nationalist intelligentsia in the late 19th century, based on contemporary sociological theories. The book traces the development of this national identity as a process of crises and contradictions. A central argument is that the negative implications of Irish national identity have not been thoroughly examined by social science to date. This comprehensive examination of Irish history provides valuable insights into the complex dynamics that shape and challenge national identity.