Forgetful Remembrance offers a new approach to the study of memory by focusing on vernacular historiographies and the notion of forgetting. Using the 1798 Irish Rebellion, Beiner explores how communities try to obscure inconvenient and uncomfortable events from the past.
The book explores the 1798 failed French invasion of Ireland, blending historical events with the rich oral traditions of Irish folklore. Guy Beiner uncovers alternative narratives of the Irish past, emphasizing vernacular histories and folk commemorative practices that have often been overlooked by historians. This work highlights the complexities of memory and how these narratives shape the understanding of historical events in Ireland.