UBC Press Griffintown: Identity and Memory in an Irish Diaspora Neighbourhood (Shared: Oral and Public History)

This vibrant biography of Griffintown, an inner-city Montreal neighbourhood, brings to life the history of Irish identity in the legendary enclave. As Irish immigration dwindled by the late nineteenth century, Irish culture in the city became diasporic, reflecting an imagined homeland. Focusing on the power of memory to shape community, Matthew Barlow finds that, despite sociopolitical pressures and a declining population, the spirit of this ethnic quarter was nurtured by the men and women who grew up there. Today, as Griffintown attracts renewed interest from developers, this textured analysis reveals how public memory defines our urban centres. Review Matthew Barlow has written an in-depth history of the Irish in Griffintown, one that has been virtually overlooked until now. This is a fascinating account of the influence of ethnicity, class, politics, religion, and history in the construction of cultural identity. If you want to understand Griffintown and the Irish, this is the book for you. Author: Paul J.P. Sandul, author of California Dreaming: Boosterism, Memory, and Rural Suburbs in the Golden State Book Description This vibrant biography of Griffintown, an inner-city Irish Catholic neighbourhood in Montreal, brings to life the history of Irish identity and collective memory in this legendary enclave. From the Author Matthew Barlow is a native Montrealer and public historian who lives and teaches in Western Massachusetts. His research centres around history, memory, deindustrialization, and trauma. Aside from the printed word, he has worked on several documentaries examining the history of Griffintown, hockey, and Montreal in general. About the Author Matthew Barlow is a native Montrealer and public historian who lives and teaches in Western Massachusetts. His research centres around history, memory, deindustrialization, and trauma. Aside from the printed word, he has worked on several documentaries examining the history of Griffintown, hockey, and Montreal in general.