Empire (2002)

Irish Empire
Very interesting documentary, broken down into the different time periods. Well narrated with a good variety of photographs, interviews and film clips. We have enjoyed it. Veryt fair price too. SM Pierrot

Sometimes Dry, Sometimes Interesting
THE IRISH EMPIRE is actually a collection of 5 different but related programs which all look at the issue of the dispersion of the Irish throughout the world. All of the programs are well done but not all of them are equally interesting. The production values are high in each instance but that does not always translate into being compelling. It does, however, bring up some interesting ideas.

Like many people, I have a hard time thinking of the Irish without thinking of the Roman church. Indeed, many of the things we associate with Irish culture have their roots in Roman Catholicism. The program points out, however, that most people claiming to be of Irish descent consider themselves to be Protestants. This is not a result of Irish Catholics converting to the local denominations; the original emigrants were themselves protestant. It is as if a cultural minority has imposed its own view of identity on the rest of the Irish people. (This is an observation, not a condemnation).

I like things Celtic. That is why I purchased this program. Having done so, I do not regret it but neither did I overly enjoy it.

"The Scattering" is the first episode. It chronicles the Irish Diaspora and tries to give the reasons for Irish emigration from the homeland. These reasons are many and varied and stretch back much further than just the potato famine of the 19th century. Additionally, it tries to explain how these waves of emigration affected the psyche of the people both at home and in the new lands.

"Building the World" looks at what the Irish people did in the places they settled. Often, this involved labor organizing and political power. Examples of this from Barbados, the US and Australia are examined in detail. Also examined is the tendency for the Irish to work in construction, particularly in Britain. Through it all, wherever they go, they maintain their Irish identity even if they have not been to Ireland for years or even generations.

"A World Apart" is similar to the previous episode but focuses more on the stories of individual people rather the entire group. This is not to say that many individuals are examined; they are not. Rather, what is examined is how the fact of Irish emigration shaped the lives of Irish emigrants. This is particularly true in the case of women. In some instances, this episode seems to be something of a feminist manifesto but that misses the point. Many of the emigrants were women and they reacted to their situation differently than the men did.

"Keeping the Faith" looks at the religious aspect of being Irish. This, of course, means there is much to be said of the influence of the Roman church but what is surprising is that most Irish outside of Ireland are protestant and have been since their families emigrated. The program looks at how the church influenced the people and how those same people influenced the church. I think this is the best done of the programs.

"Dreams of Home" examines the concept of "Irishness" from the standpoint of those of the Diaspora and also those in Ireland. It questions what constitutes "Irish" in the minds of those people. In some respects, it is a question of memories. In others, it is of imagination.