“We’re With You, Dear Ireland”: Negotiations of Irishness and Transnational Support for Irish Home Rule and Independence on US Sheet Music Covers, 1858-1921

O'Hagan, Lauren Alex (2024). “We’re With You, Dear Ireland”: Negotiations of Irishness and Transnational Support for Irish Home Rule and Independence on US Sheet Music Covers, 1858-1921. New Hibernia Review (In Press).

Abstract

This paper examines the role of US sheet music covers in shaping and promoting new forms of Irishness that challenged negative stereotypes in popular culture and served to build transnational support for Irish Home Rule and independence. Using a dataset of 60 covers from 1858 to 1921, it identifies how specific illustrations, photographs, symbols, colors, typography, layout, and composition were used to negotiate a distinctly Irish-American identity, with Ireland presented as geographically and politically unified. By incorporating romanticized images of Ireland’s landscape, dignified portrayals of prominent Irish political figures, and consistent national symbols, the covers offered a carefully curated representation of Irishness that concealed sectarian conflicts and avoided overt criticisms of Britain. Furthermore, they catered to both Irish-American and broader American audiences by emphasizing nostalgic and politically safe depictions that tapped into values of liberty, self-sufficiency, and a history of emigration to foster sympathy and support. Overall, the paper highlights how sheet music covers functioned as a powerful medium for negotiating ethnic identity and political advocacy, constructing a culturally connected yet Americanized Irish identity, which ultimately contributed to the assimilation and acceptance of Irish-Americans in the country’s broader cultural and sociopolitical landscape.

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