My name is Samuel Beckton, I am an International Peace Studies student at Trinity College Dublin, for the centenary anniversary of the 1916 Easter rising, I am currently writing my dissertation: ‘An Investigation of the Evolution of the Unionist Identity and Ideology in the Republic of Ireland since 1922’. The paper discusses that Unionism in the Republic of Ireland is not extinct, but has evolved to emerge the existence of different ideologies. Firstly, Cultural Unionism, those that believe there is a social union between the peoples of the British Isles, being somewhat fond of British culture, and/or has British, or Northern Irish, heritage. Secondly, Partitionism, believing Northern Ireland should remain a separate state from the Republic Lastly, Neo-Unionism, that their region, or the entire Republic of Ireland, should re-join the UK in a political union. I have sound primary and secondary evidence to support each theory for the thesis and I am currently researching all forms of Southern Unionism.
As part of my dissertation in looking into modern Southern Unionism, I have decided to create a survey in order to collect primary data about some political and cultural issues in the Republic of Ireland:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/southernunionism
I need respondents, aged 18+ that reside in the Republic of Ireland, with all respondents remaining anonymous. I thought this might be an interesting topic for the County Kildare Archaeological Society. If you, and your society, could please help me it would mean so much, this is open for everyone to take part not just those that may be potentially Unionist. I was wondering if it could be possible if you could send an email out to your members if they would like to take part in the survey. Unionism had a strong presence across Ireland at one point, and it would be interesting to hear the views of their descendants a century later. If not, I could send you printed versions of the survey that your members could do in their own time and send back to me when completed?
Thank you in anticipation,
Sincerely,
Sam Beckton