Tour Guides and the mediation of difficult memories: the case of Dublin Castle, Ireland

Abstract

This research seeks to furthering understandings of how Tour Guides interpret memories at heritage sites when the memories at issue are difficult yet subtle and not always apparent to tourists. Specifically, it explores how Dublin Castle, formerly the seat of British rule in Ireland, is captured in narratives presented to tourists that often include Britons. Representing the site is made challenging because some visitors have little knowledge of the site's history, while others are well informed and hold strong political views. The findings show that Guides select largely depoliticized narratives, strongly influenced by their personal interests and experiences. Some hint at underlying tensions that only tourists alert to the complexities of the site might capture. Dominant narratives can be challenged by tourists with an interest in, or allegiance to, particular historical or political beliefs, leading to emotional engagements. Some tourists, unaware of the complexities of the site, can encounter a more multi-layered and complex experience than perhaps envisaged. The study affirms the co-production evident in Tour Guiding narratives and points to the need for further research into how the variously empowered agencies of both the Guide and the tourist produce a constant shifting and re-working of memory.

Navigating contested memories in a commercialised setting: conflict avoidance strategies in Kyiv city tour guiding

“…A growing body of scholarship has examined the production of texts and material objects linked to difficult heritage as well as, to a somewhat lesser extent, its communication in face-to-face interactions (Pfoser and Keightley 2019;Quinn and Ryan 2016;Skinner 2016;Lehrer, Milton, and Patterson 2011;Lehrer 2010;Macdonald 2006;Schwenkel 2006). This literature has been very valuable in identifying key dynamics and challenges of heritage interpretation but is limited in significant ways, because it tends to overlook the communication of heritage in conventional tourism offers.…”

“…This literature has been very valuable in identifying key dynamics and challenges of heritage interpretation but is limited in significant ways, because it tends to overlook the communication of heritage in conventional tourism offers. Most of the literature has focused either on public institutions such as museums and memorial sites dedicated to the presentation and commemoration of difficult pasts (Macdonald 2006;Lehrer, Milton, and Patterson 2011;Quinn and Ryan 2016;Ferguson, Walby, and Piche 2016) or has examined commercial offers in the field of dark or political tourism (Nisbett and Rapson 2020;Markham 2018;Skinner 2016). This literature examines for example particular visual, narrative and performative practices of representing difficult pasts and the particular political renderings of memory they generate.…”

Tourists' space–time behavior in heritage places: Comparing guided and nonguided visitors

“…The latest studies on local guiding include C. U. I. Wong (), who analyzed how local guides present Macau's heritage to Chinese and non‐Chinese visitors, and Io (), who also evaluated how guides in Macau provide detailed site interpretation to individual tourists basically interested in heritage tourism. Finally, in one of the most recent studies, Quinn and Ryan () explored narratives of tour guides in Dublin Castle in order to understand how guides interpret memories, considering that some visitors have little knowledge while others have deeper knowledge about the site.…”

“…From the outset, most of this research has focused on the guide as a tour leader, that is to say, guides in charge of managing a group during a trip (e.g., Cetin & Yarcan, ; Cohen, Ifergan, & Cohen, ; Geva & Goldman, ; Mossberg, ; Pizam & Jeong, ; Quiroga, ; Weiler & Davis, ). Currently, many studies also center on the role of the guide as a local tour guide (e.g., Hansen & Mossberg, ; Io, ; Jensen, ; Larsen & Meged, ; McKerzie & Kerr, ; Quinn & Ryan, ; Salazar, , , ; C. U. I. Wong, ).…”

“…Most studies pay attention to tour guiding profession: roles, performances, narratives, and attributes (e.g., Ap & Wong, ; Cetin & Yarcan, ; Cohen, ; Cohen et al, ; Dahles, ; Fine & Speer, ; Hansen & Mossberg, ; Holloway, ; Io, ; Jensen, ; Quinn & Ryan, ; Salazar, , ; Tsaur & Teng, ; Weiler & Davis, ; C. U. I. Wong, ; Yankovska & Hannam, ). However, more recently, articles exploring other aspects of guiding are gradually appearing.…”