Digging for Gold: Irish Builders in Post-War London
This talk will look at the lived experiences of Irish males in the reconstruction of post-war London c.1945-1995. Starting with an overview of Irish migration to Britain and a look at the role of construction labour in the formation of London-Irish immigrant communities, the talk will also highlight some key theoretical concepts of the lived experience of migrant Irish builders: entrepreneurialism, rural fundamentalism, performative Irishness, myths, masculinities and stereotypes.
Speaker
Michael is an erstwhile of the vibrant London-Irish community of the 1970s, 80s and 90s and spent most of his working career in construction. He was awarded an IRC postgraduate scholarship in 2015 and completed his doctoral research at Maynooth University. His thesis, ‘Digging For Gold’: Irish Builders In Post-War London - Historical Representations and Realities’ was awarded a PhD in history in 2021.
ALL ARE WELCOME