Queering Irish History

What damage done to Irish genderqueer identities by colonialism?

Detail of image from ‘Topographica Hibernica.’ See image below for further information and credit.

Last month, I scratched the surface in terms of the rich social history of Third Gender people on the Indian subcontinent, which British colonialists sought to eradicate. That history, combined with increased attempts to stir up transphobia here in Ireland (see the Trans Writers’ Union boycott of the Irish Times), provoked an idea.

What of a land far smaller than India where British colonialists had significantly more time to influence social norms? What potential damage had 800 years of colonial occupation done to gender identities on the island of Ireland?

I’ve included this image of the scribe as it is one of the only images that could be considered a positive depiction of the native Irish in Gerald of Wales’ Topographica Hibernica c. 1196 — c. 1223, courtesy of the National Library of Ireland.

My knowledge of Irish history before the Anglo-Norman invasion in the late 12th Century is murky. In history class, I learned Irish myths and legends, as a means of capturing the essence of Gaelic society before it was suppressed. The island of Ireland has been inhabited for at least 33,000 years. Yet, in comparison with our neighbour, significantly less is known of Irish society before the British invader began documenting it.

Topographica Hibernica: Justification for Invasion