You Say ‘Po-Tay-to’ I Say ‘Po-Tah-to'

This thesis researched the construction of the history of Anglo-Irish relations in Irish and English history textbooks. English and Irish history is linked through centuries of history. Looking at their shared history from the Irish and the English perspective allowed me to decipher how the narratives were constructed. My research question is how is the narrative of Anglo-Irish history constructed in Irish and English history textbooks during the Troubles of Northern Ireland (1966-1998). I chose this time period because history was used as a weapon during the Troubles. I narrowed down the historical events to compare to the initial conquest and colonization of Ireland in 1169 and the Potato Famine (1845-1852). The findings of my research are a confirmation that there are more silences in English narratives, and additionally attempts to justify their colonization of Ireland. The Irish narrative, more so than the English narrative, connects the effects of colonization that led to the catastrophe of the Potato Famine. Due to this connection, the blame in the Irish narrative on England is more prevalent than in the English narrative.