Issue 1

Make the change you want to see

The first issue is called ‘Change Makers’ and focuses on historical figures, moments, and aspirations that inform our understanding of contemporary Ireland. We asked each contributor to think about a definition of ‘change makers’ that helped them to understand pathways to a better future.

There are a multitude of themes in the first issue, and they include: Refugees, duality, queerness, gender, migration, social inclusion, history, activism, ableism, culture, and race. The above themes took inspiration to transformative periods in Irish history including post marriage referendum, repeal the 8th and post- Black Lives Matter movement where each contributor with their own unique characteristic touched on these moments while creating a nuanced understating of the changing nature of Irishness.

With the publication of the first issue, we hope to showcase the power of having marginalized communities being central to their narratives as far too often within Irish discourse minority voices are spoken about and spoken for but these members are not the ones that are doing the talking.

We invite readers onto this journey of exploring what it means to be unapologetic and hope to add to the ongoing conversation of the changing nature of Irishness. We hope that you our audience will appreciate and celebrate the cultural richness and multiple heritage that now shapes Contemporary Ireland.