Chapter 8: Without categories and classifications: "Rural" as a social expression

This chapter explores social representative groups as a medium to study "rural" meaning in Ireland. In research terms, the concept of "rurality" is increasingly debated, its existence questioned, and approaches to establish conceptual and methodological boundaries continuously challenged. By studying the language of social representative group leaders, it is argued in this chapter that the "rural" can be fluidly explored through its expression. Through a theme-based deconstruction of interviews with group leaders, I explore the expression of loss in Irish dialogue and its implication on "rural" meaning.