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Buy Housing a Nation by Lorcan Sirr, tracing one Irish family across seven generations of land, politics and power. Order online now at Chapters Bookstore.
Following seven generations of a family as they move through history, beginning with a
nineteenth-century labourers'' cottage and ending with a present-day quest to get a
footing on the property ladder, Housing a Nation paints a picture of how and where Irish
people have lived in the past - and shows us how each era and generation has influenced
the state of housing in Ireland today.
From the shadow of the Big House to Ballymun''s high-rises, from the Land League to the
C eltic Tiger, this book reveals how housing reflects deeper struggles over class,
nationalism and ideology.
A landmark history blending archival material with social commentary, Housing a Nation
shows how homes are more than places to live - they are the lens through which we
understand identity, power and belonging. And the key to imagining a different future.
FAQs
"What is Housing a Nation about?
Housing a Nation: Seven Generations of Irish Land, Politics and Power is Lorcan Sirr’s history of Irish housing, told through seven generations of one family. It runs from a nineteenth-century labourer’s cottage to today’s struggle to get on the property ladder.
Who is Lorcan Sirr?
Dr Lorcan Sirr is a housing policy analyst and senior lecturer at TU Dublin. He is a regular contributor to The Irish Times, a former Sunday Times columnist and a board member of Threshold, and one of Ireland’s best-known commentators on housing.
Does Housing a Nation explain Ireland’s housing crisis?
Yes. Sirr puts today’s affordability and supply problems in their historical context. He covers the rise and fall of social housing, the effects of financialisation, and recurring issues like homelessness, showing how past policy choices shaped the current crisis.
What period of Irish history does Housing a Nation cover?
It spans around 300 years, from the Wide Streets Commission in Georgian Dublin to the Mahon Tribunal. Labourers’ cottages, Ballymun’s tower blocks and modern rental pressures all feature in this richly illustrated book, published by Hachette Books Ireland in September 2026.
Does Chapters Bookstore sell second-hand books?
Yes. We stock over 20,000 second-hand books across every genre, available online or in store. You can also trade in your own books for a Chapters digital gift card."
Following seven generations of a family as they move through history, beginning with a
nineteenth-century labourers'' cottage and ending with a present-day quest to get a
footing on the property ladder, Housing a Nation paints a picture of how and where Irish
people have lived in the past - and shows us how each era and generation has influenced
the state of housing in Ireland today.
From the shadow of the Big House to Ballymun''s high-rises, from the Land League to the
C eltic Tiger, this book reveals how housing reflects deeper struggles over class,
nationalism and ideology.
A landmark history blending archival material with social commentary, Housing a Nation
shows how homes are more than places to live - they are the lens through which we
understand identity, power and belonging. And the key to imagining a different future.
FAQs
"What is Housing a Nation about?
Housing a Nation: Seven Generations of Irish Land, Politics and Power is Lorcan Sirr’s history of Irish housing, told through seven generations of one family. It runs from a nineteenth-century labourer’s cottage to today’s struggle to get on the property ladder.
Who is Lorcan Sirr?
Dr Lorcan Sirr is a housing policy analyst and senior lecturer at TU Dublin. He is a regular contributor to The Irish Times, a former Sunday Times columnist and a board member of Threshold, and one of Ireland’s best-known commentators on housing.
Does Housing a Nation explain Ireland’s housing crisis?
Yes. Sirr puts today’s affordability and supply problems in their historical context. He covers the rise and fall of social housing, the effects of financialisation, and recurring issues like homelessness, showing how past policy choices shaped the current crisis.
What period of Irish history does Housing a Nation cover?
It spans around 300 years, from the Wide Streets Commission in Georgian Dublin to the Mahon Tribunal. Labourers’ cottages, Ballymun’s tower blocks and modern rental pressures all feature in this richly illustrated book, published by Hachette Books Ireland in September 2026.
Does Chapters Bookstore sell second-hand books?
Yes. We stock over 20,000 second-hand books across every genre, available online or in store. You can also trade in your own books for a Chapters digital gift card."
- Publisher Name:Hodder & Stoughton
- Product Format:Hardback
- ISBN: 9781399759816
- Author:Sirr, Lorcan
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