'Sad Day for Ireland': The Construction and Positioning of Irish National Identity in Social Media Discourse during the Campaign to Repeal the Eighth Amendment and Introduce Abortion Legislation

Abstract

This study investigates the construction and positioning of Irish national identity in social media discourse during the 2018 referendum campaign to repeal the Eighth Amendment and introduce abortion legislation. The referendum marked a pivotal moment in the Republic of Ireland's history, reflecting a shift in public perception and national identity. Historically, Irish identity was closely tied to Catholicism, with abortion debates often centring on a collective national identity rather than individual rights. This study employs a corpus-based qualitative examination of Facebook comments on articles from major Irish news outlets, using Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to explore how national identity was represented, contested, and repositioned. The analysis identifies four main groups: Yes supporters, No supporters, undecided or neutral voters, and others. The findings reveal two conflicting visions of Ireland: one that is future-forward and embraces modernity, and another that clings to traditional values and laments a perceived loss of morality. The study highlights the role of language in enacting social change and the ongoing struggle over national identity in Ireland, particularly in the context of gender and social inequality. The results underscore the complex interplay between national identity, religion, and political discourse in shaping public opinion and policy.