Fishing for Identity and Sense of Place – Talk by Elaine O’Driscoll-Adam
Friday 03 March
1pm
FREE

 As an island nation Ireland’s coastal inhabitants maintain a familiar relationship with the sea, however, fishermen and their families experience the sea in ways that tend to differ from the wider ‘landed’ population.   

Originally from Castletownbere cultural geographer Elaine O’Driscoll-Adam was brought up in a fishing family and having lived in France for over a decade it was an instinctive yet informed choice to select the fishery harbours of Castletownbere (West Cork) and Le Guilvinec (Brittany) to conduct her research. Fishing is at the heart of these communities and the social and cultural characteristics it sustains plays an essential part in the construction of sense of place and identity. Elaine further explored the everyday practices and lived experiences of women and men in these communities by turning her focus to the fishing family, the fishing boat and the pier. She was interested in gaining a better understanding as to why these men and women choose to be part of such a difficult and dangerous way of life.  

 This event is part of the This Must Be The Place | The Great Island Project 2017