The Consumption of Heritage Centres in Ireland, with Particular Reference to Wicklow's Historic Gaol
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The Consumption of Heritage Centres in Ireland, with Particular Reference to Wicklow’s Historic Gaol. T. M. Breathnach, B. Des, M.Phil. PhD. September 2003 Dublin City University Supervisor: Dr. Barbara O’ Connor School of Communications I hereby certify that this material, which I now submit for assessment on the programme of study leading to the award of PhD, is entirely my own work and has not been taken from the work of others save and to the extent that such work has been cited and acknowledged within the text of my work. Signed: 4 I.O. Number: II 2. 3 Date: ' 11 * 0 3 Acknowledgements Firstly, this study could not have been undertaken without the financial support provided by Dublin City University. I would also like to thank Tom Broderick, Wicklow County Council, David Bowe, Wicklow’s Historic Gaol and Dennis Brennan, Brennan and Whalley Ltd., for their invaluable assistance. Finally, special thanks is due to Dr. Barbara O’ Connor whose support, enthusiasm and keen criticisms were essential to the completion of this thesis. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT TABLE OF FIGURES PAGE INTRODUCTION 1 SECTION 1: REVIEW OF LITERATURE Chapter 1 DEFINING HERITAGE 5 1.1 Introduction 6 1.2 Defining Heritage 7 1.3 Heritage Centres as Systems of Representation 9 1.4 Summary 17 Chapter 2 AUTHENTICITY AND THE CONSUMPTION OF HERITAGE 18 2.1 Introduction 18 2.2 The Inauthenticity of Visitor Experiences 19 2.3 Questioning the Inauthenticity of Heritage Centres 26 2.4 Tourism and The ‘Authenticity of Self 30 2.5 Visitor Experiences of Exhibitionary Authenticity 38 2.6 Summary 50 Chapter 3 IDENTITY AND THE CONSUMPTION OF HERITAGE 55 3.1 Introduction 55 3.2 Class Identity and The Consumption of Heritage 57 3.3 Imagined Communities and the Consumption of Heritage 70 3.4 Summary 80 SECTION 2 METHODOLOGY Chapter 4 METHODOLOGICAL MODEL 88 4.1 Introduction 88 4.2 Methodological Model 88 4.3 Summary 98 Chapter 5 METHODOLOOGY: WICKLOW'S HISTORIC GAOL 100 5.1 Introduction 100 5.2 Methodology 100 5.3 Summary 109 SECTION 3 ENCODING AND DECODING WICKLOW’S HISTORIC GAOL Chapter 6 HERITAGE, TOURISM AND IDENTITY IN IRELAND 111 6.1 Introduction 111 6.2 Heritage and the Tourism Industry 113 6.3 Heritage and Identity Construction 122 6.4 Summary 148 Chapter 7 ENCODING WICKLOW’S HISTORIC GAOL 150 7.1 Introduction 150 7.2 Production of the Gaol as a Heritage Attraction 150 7.3 Interpretive Themes: Constructing the History of the Gaol 156 7.4 Textual Analysis 166 7.5 Summary 185 Chapter 8 DECODING WICKLOW’S HISTORIC GAOL 188 8.1 Introduction 188 8.2 Visitor Responses: Description and Analysis 188 8.3 Summary 216 CONCLUSION 218 BIBLIOGRAPHY 230 APPENDICES The Consumption of Heritage Centres in Ireland with Particular Reference to Wicklow’s Historic Gaol T.M. Breathnach Abstract This thesis is concerned with the consumption of heritage centres in Ireland, and asks why and how visitors engage with the past there. To do this, it develops one heritage attraction, Wicklow’s Historic Gaol, as a case study. It questions critiques of heritage visiting that see it as a retreatist, nostalgic and inauthentic way of experiencing of the past, and presents an alternative conceptualisation that acknowledges the complexity of this activity. It discusses the role that various forms of identity may play in engaging with the past and re-considers the very concept of authenticity that is at stake in such experiences. Following Selwyn (1996) and Wang (1999, 2000) this thesis suggests that visitors may use heritage attractions as a vehicle to experience an 'authenticity of self. In adopting Hall’s (1980) ‘Encoding/Decoding’ model of communication, the development of the case study includes the analysis of Wicklow’s Historic Gaol as a ‘text’, it’s production, consumption and the contexts which impact on both. Primary data was generated by conducting interviews with both exhibition organisers and visitors, by conducting a questionnaire survey of visitors, and by developing 'behavioural maps’ of visitors’ movements. This thesis finds that preferred, negotiated and oppositional readings of the text emerge amongst visitor responses. These occur in relation to both class and cultural identities. This thesis also argues that aspects of these responses indicate that visitors seek to establish an authenticity of self both by engaging with the exhibitionary authenticities employed at the gaol, and by locating themselves in the past as it is represented there. TABLE OF FIGURES Section 1 PAGE Fig. 1.1 Dublinia at Christchurch. Dublin. Brochure. 2002. 11 Fig. 1.2 Palace Stables Heritaae Centre. Armagh. Brochure. 2002. 12 Fig. 1.3 The Saint Patrick Centre. Downpatrick. Brochure. 2002. 13 Fig. 1.4 Palace Stable Heritage Centre. Armagh. Brochure. 2002. 14 Fig. 1.5 Furniture Gallerv. The National Museum at Collins’ Barracks. Dublin. 1997. 16 Section 3 Fig. 3.1 Wicklow’s Historic Gaol, Co. Wicklow. 2001. 112 Fig. 3.2 Greenan Farm Museum and Maze. Co. Wicklow, Brochure. 2003. 118 Fig. 3.3 Cover. The East Coast and Midlands of Ireland. Where Dreams Come True. Midlands East Tourism. Mullingar, c.2001. 124 Fig. 3.4 The Pride and the Opulence, as above. 125 Fig. 3.5 The Saints and the Scholars, as above. 126 Fig. 3.6 The Wild Wonderful Spirit of Adventure, as above. 127 Fig. 3.7 So Much Awaits Your Pleasure, as above. 128 Fig. 3.8 Pamper Yourself, as above. 128 Fig. 3.9 Countv Wicklow: Dreams Do Come True, as above. 130 Fig. 3.10 Powerscourt Gardens. Postcard, John Hinde Ltd., c.2001. 132 Fig. 3.11 Glendalouoh. Postcard. John Hinde Ltd.. c.2001. 132 Fig. 3.12 UDDer Lake. Glendalouoh. Postcard. John Hinde Ltd.. c.2001. 133 Fig. 3.13 Wicklow Town, Postcard, John Hinde Ltd.. c.2001. 133 Fig. 3.14 Cottaqes of Ireland. Postcard. John Hinde Ltd.. c.2001. 133 Fig. 3.15 DesertedCottage, Postcard. John Hinde Ltd., c.2001. 134 Fig. 3.16 An Teach Beag. Postcard, John Hinde Ltd.. c.2003. 134 Fig. 3.17 Man on Cart, Postcard, John Hinde Ltd., c.2003. 134 Fig. 3.18 Ireland, Postcard, John Hinde Ltd., c.2001 135 Fig. 3.19 Ballvkissanoel and the Garden of Ireland. Railtours Brochure. 2002. 136 Fig. 3.20 Powerscourt Waterfall. George Barret, from Hutchinson, J.,“ Intrusions and Representations: The Landscape of Wicklow", Irish Arts Review. Vol. 6, 1990, pp91-99. 139 Fig. 3.21 The London Dungeon. Brochure, c.2001 160 Fig. 3.22 Diagram. Brennan and Whalley, Presentation Notes. 1993. 161 Fig. 3.23 Wicklow's Historic Gaol. Advertisement, East Coast and Midlands of Ireland, Top Visitor Attractions. Mullingar, 2001. 163 Fig. 3.24 Cell Guide. Wicklow's Historic Gaol, 2001. 168 Fig. 3.25 Gaol Gate. Wicklow’s Historic Gaol, 2001. 170 Fig. 3.26 Convicts.Pre-Reform Room. Wicklow's Historic Gaol, 2001. 170 Fig. 3.27 Stairs from 'Pre-Reform’ to ‘1798 Rebellion’. Wicklow’s Historic Gaol, 2001 172 Fig. 3.28 Cell Block, Wicklow's Historic Gaol, 2001. 172 Fig. 3.29 Stairs from ‘1798 Rebellion’ to ‘Life in Gaol’. Wicklow's Historic Gaol, 2001. 177 Fig. 3.30 Turnkey. ‘Life in Gaol’. Wicklow’s Historic Gaol, 2001. 177 Fig. 3.31 Eliza Davis. ‘Life in Gaol’. Wicklow’s Historic Gaol, 2001. 180 Fig. 3.32 Captain Luckvn Betts. ‘Transportation’. Wicklow’s Historic Gaol, 2001. 180 Fig. 3.33 Stairs from Deck to Ship’s Hold. ‘Transportation’. Wicklow’s Historic Gaol, 2001. 180 Fig. 3.34 Tableaux. Ship’s Hold, ‘Transportation’. Wicklow's Historic Gaol, 2001. 182 Fig. 3.35 Tableaux. Ship’s Hold. ‘Transportation’. Wicklow’s Historic Gaol. 2001. 182 Fig. 3.36 Female Convict. Ship’s Hold. ‘Transportation'. Wicklow's Historic Gaol, 2001. 183 Fig. 3.37 ‘Life in Australia', Wicklow’s Historic Gaol, 2001. 183 Appendix A Fig. 1.1 (a) Behavioural Map : Ground Floor. 2 Fig. 1.1 (b) Behavioural M ap: 1st Floor. 3 Fig. 1.1 (c) Behavioural M ap: Ship. 4 Fig. 1.1 (d) Behavioural Map : 2nd Floor. 5 Introduction There is no doubt that both history and heritage are important components of contemporary Irish life. These terms generate both symbolic and economic meanings. On one hand, the generation of tourism has provided the principal impetus for the emergence of a network of heritage sites and centres that interpret our history. On the other hand, differing interpretations of the past continue to be a divisive force between cultural groups here. Several visitor studies conducted in Ireland have established who visits these attractions, when they visit and how much they spend. Few, however, have considered the deeper meanings that are given to narratives encountered at heritage attractions and indeed, the act of visiting itself. This thesis aims to consider how and why visitors engage with heritage centres in Ireland. It will investigate the meanings given by visitors themselves to the act of visiting, the subjects represented and the strategies of representation that are used. It will do this by analysing the empirical data that has emerged through the study of visitors to Wicklow’s Historic Gaol, a heritage attraction on Ireland’s East Coast. This historic building was opened as a heritage attraction in 1998, following its transformation from a near derelict site during the course of the previous decade. The interpretation of the past by such entities has received a significant level of academic and popular interest. The rapid development of a heritage industry in Britain during the 1980s prompted vehement criticism. The most well known of these texts, which was written by Robert Hewison (1987) and coined the very term ‘heritage industry’, attacked the increasingly profit- oriented agenda of those entities entrusted with the representation of the past.