Ireland: Why it matters to be an island

It is a simple fact that Ireland is an island nation. But how often do we consider what it means to be an islander? Michael Cronin argues that we tend to ignore the fundamental fact of our island existence. For centuries, the question of this island’s independence has centred on the politics of the place and an ability to own the land we stand on. But now, as the climate emergency threatens our shared island home, we need to urgently rethink how to protect and promote our island existence, on both land and at sea. Understanding islands differently entails asserting a sense of purpose and place in the world, retrieving a sense of solidarity across the globe with other islanders and a productive reckoning with our island status as an ocean people.