Deconstructing Ireland examines the course by which the history of modernity and colonialism has constructed an idea of "Ireland," produced more often as a citation than an actuality. The author's approach -- using Derridean deconstruction in alliance with positions in postcolonial and Subaltern Studies -- illuminates the way in which national identity is constructed and reconfigured through a fascinating range of material, including literature, political writing, and popular cultural forms such as television, film, and advertising.