D. George Boyce rejects the idea that Irish nationalism, or any other kind, simply "happened" at a particular time. he argues that it was the result of a long and gradually developing tradition that owed much to many diverse groups in Irish society. Boyce identifies the chief characteristics of Irish nationalism as a sense of race, religion, and territorial integrity, all of which were influenced profoundly by the power of England. The book explains how Irish nationalists had to struggle to overcome regionalism, passivity, rural backwardness, limited horizons, class differences and religious conflict, and how, in seeking a common denominator that would enable them to mobilize the "nation," nationalist leaders sacrificed their fundamental goal--the creation of an Irish nation that would embrace all classes and creeds of Irishmen.

This updated edition considers the development of nationalism in the light of recent political events and places the pheneomenon of nationalism in its contemporary European setting, stressing issues of language and religion.