‘An Irish Night In’—Irish Culture Zuhause

This chapter revolves around the notion of ‘Irishness’ and how it is performed—officially, by the representative bodies and the tourist board, on the one hand; unofficially, by Irish people living in Germany, on the other. The lens is shifted to how the pandemic-induced confinement spotlighted a commodification and consumption of Irish culture within the domestic spaces of the Irish interlocutors in Germany. It critically examines how cultural practices, such as cooking ‘traditional Irish’ dishes, listening to Irish music, and participating in online events and celebrations, are not only expressions of identity but also acts embedded in broader narratives of commodification. These practices underscore the complexities of consuming ‘Irishness’ from afar, where elements of Irish culture are both celebrated and marketed. The chapter articulates how individuals’ private lives became a stage for the negotiation of a commodified and at times static Irish identity, reflecting on how diaspora members navigate the intersection of their own practices of Irishness and with the global market for ‘authentic’ Irish symbols and goods. The chapter reveals the multifaceted dynamics of cultural expression, belonging, and the economic dimensions of ‘being Irish’ in a globalised world.