We Don't Know Ourselves

Fintan O'Toole, Ireland’s prominent public intellectual, offers a personal and insightful history of Ireland’s transformation from a society marked by underdevelopment and church dominance to a more prosperous and tolerant nation. Through a blend of memoir and historical narrative, he reflects on key moments such as the sectarian conflict in the North, the fight for civil and sexual freedoms, and the ongoing legacy of institutional challenges. As someone who actively participated in Ireland’s cultural and political debates over the past decades, O’Toole provides a nuanced perspective on the country’s complex journey.