A Derry lawyer turned editor published her first book, Being Irish: 101 Views on Irish Identity, just in time for Christmas.

Marie-Claire Logue’s decision to publish the book came after her father, Paddy Logue, edited the first edition of Being Irish shortly after the Good Friday Agreement with the aim of learning more about Irish identity. at the turn of the millennium.

Now, over 20 years later, Marie-Claire has revisited the project to see how the Irish identity has changed. The book contains the personal reflections of 101 contributors from a variety of sectors, backgrounds and perspectives on who they are and what it means to them to be ‘Irish’,

Contributions come from the ranks of famous and less famous people, people at the center of things and people on the fringes, people who live in Ireland and those who live abroad, the Irish and non-Irish-but-interested. .

Contributors include Lisa McGee, playwright and writer for Derry Girls; Dr Teresa Lambe, co-inventor of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine; General Martin Dempsey, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the United States; Mervyn Gibson, Grand Secretary of the Orange Grand Lodge of Ireland; Merlin Holland, Oscar Wilde’s only grandson; well-known broadcaster Eamonn Holmes; the North Irish jockey AP McCoy; singer-songwriter Ryan McMullan; Irish Olympian, Sonia O’Sullivan and many others.

Speaking on the book and her decision to publish it now, Marie-Claire said: “Having both lived and traveled outside of Ireland, I have come to realize the strength of the sense of identity among the Irish. I was also aware that change was sweeping the island of Ireland and I was curious to find out how solid or fluid the Irish identity was during this time of profound change.

“Above all, the book’s reflections show that there are many ways to be Irish. We can be Irish by birth, Irish by descent, Irish by geography, Irish and British, Irish by accident, Northern Irish, Irish by necessity, Irish and European, Irish by association, Irish by culture, Irish and American and Irish by choice.

“The collection is a tribute to the honesty of the contributors, and I want to emphasize how much I appreciate their commitment.

“It started out as a passionate project for me, a topic that really interested me.

“The more I spoke with the various contributors and read their stories, the more I became convinced of the importance of the book as a snapshot of Irish identity today. It was a real privilege to work on it and a welcome distraction during the lockdown. “

She concluded: “Becoming a parent has made me think about what this book will look like for my two children in 20 years, and that has been a great motivation for me.”

Contributors have been encouraged to be as open and honest as possible with the intention that the book be completely inclusive and non-judgmental.

They’ve all been asked the same questions: What does Irish identity mean to you personally? Why do 70 million people around the world embrace their Irish heritage? Are we navelists? Or are there real changes in attitude in Ireland and among Irish people around the world?

Published by Liffey Press, Being Irish: 101 views on Irish Identity, is available in the local independent Little Acorn Book Store on Foyle Street as well as in all major bookstores and online.