CRISIS AND CLIMATE - AN ORAL HISTORY FROM THE IRISH MIDLANDS.

Rooted in the rich soil of Ireland’s heartland, Farming in the Midlands offers a vivid, multi-layered portrait of rural life across generations. From the challenges of smallholders to the innovations of niche producers, this compelling collection of stories, interviews and reflections reveals the resilience, complexity, and quiet transformation of Irish agriculture.

Spanning themes from women in farming and rural village change to environmental sustainability and the role of the IFA, the book gives voice to those who work the land—both seasoned farmers and newcomers returning from abroad. Whether it's coping with flooding, adapting to new technologies, or preserving traditions, Farming in the Midlands captures the everyday realities and enduring spirit of Irish farm life in the 20th and 21st centuries.

AUTHOR BIO

Pat Brereton is Emeritus Professor at the School of Communications, DCU, Dublin Ireland. His academic books include Hollywood Utopia: Ecology in Contemporary American Cinema (2005); Continuum Guide to Media Education (2001); Historical Dictionary of Irish Cinema (2007), with Roddy Flynn; and Smart Cinema, DVD Add-ons and New Audience Pleasures (2012). Having written extensively on environmental and sustainable media, his most recent books include Essential Concepts of Environmental Communication: An A-Z Guide (Routledge 2022), alongside a revised edition of Environmental Ethics and Film (Routledge, 2026). He is committed to developing all aspects of media and environmental literacy as it speaks to all forms of communication outlets in the ongoing challenge to help address the climate emergency.