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The question of multiculturalism in Northern Ireland (NI) and the Republic of Ireland (ROI) has come more to the fore in recent years with growing levels of plurality within these societies. Indeed, new debates are opening up regarding identity and citizenship, which undoubtedly are challenging traditional conceptions of identity, with consequences for integration. Yet despite public acknowledgement of minority communities, an established equality and human rights industry, and a plethora of equality and anti-discrimination legislation, the article argues that NI and the ROI cannot as yet be described as multicultural. Using the veil as a lens through which to explore narratives about identity in NI and the ROI, the article discusses the link between identity and integration, demonstrating the integration philosophies at work, and furthermore considers the wider gender implications of integration. It analyses the veil as a symbol of otherness in Ireland, as a symbol of the threat of diversity, and as a symbol of fundamentalism in ‘secular’ Ireland. It utilises fieldwork carried out with Muslim women in Ireland. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The development of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 marked a significant step in recognising women's role in peace processes. While it has affected the drafting of peace agreements since its enactment, the question remains as to how to create appropriate structural spaces within a political system to give effect to 1325. This article reflects on the implementation of UNSCR 1325 on the island of Ireland. It considers the different interpretations of two sovereign governments on its applicability to post-conflict politics on the island of Ireland. It also evaluates the opportunities and challenges involved in applying this international framework to women, peace and security in a local context. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The controversy over contraception during the 1970s was the first episode in what became the Irish 'cultural wars' of the 1970s and 1980s. This article suggests that changes in attitudes among a minority of Irish citizens and the availability of oral contraceptives in the 1960s challenged the traditional prohibition on contraceptives contained in the Criminal Law Amendment Act. Liberals challenged this legislation but received very little support from either Fianna Fail or Fine Gael until the McGee Supreme Court decision in 1973. Even then, dissent over the issue led the Taoiseach to vote against his own government's legislation in 1974. Legislation was eventually passed in 1979, though this was conceived in conservative and restrictive terms rather than as a liberal measure. This controversy marks the emergence of conservative grassroots movements in defence of traditional Catholic teaching and Fianna Fail positioning itself on the conservative wing of Irish politics on these policy areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]