Performing Paramilitarism: Loyalist Songs, Conflict, and Culture War in Northern Ireland

During Northern Ireland's 'Troubles' (1969-98), paramilitary groups were supported and sustained by a sociocultural apparatus that helped legitimise their position within the community and disseminate their political message.From the use of flags and murals to loyalist and republican parades, working-class vernacular culture revealed who controlled various districts of the Province.For many working-class Protestants, loyalist songs were a key component of this culture, connecting the past and the present.Unlike the better-known loyalist marching band scene, the loyalist song scene was--and continues to be--much more private.Performances take place in closed settings such as local loyalist pubs and clubs, where songs are reproduced for internal consumption rather than outward expression. Performing Paramilitarism examines the role that loyalist songs played during the Troubles and why musicians and audiences still produce and consume these songs today.By tracing the connection between l