I need to write about how Irish culture is presented in the short story, "The Dead" for an essay question.

Irish culture permeates the Christmas gathering at the Morkan house in "The Dead." Many typical Irish types (or stereotypes) attend the party. One is Molly Ivors, an Irish nationalist. 

The main character, Gabriel Conroy has feelings of superiority to Ireland and what he thinks of as his country's lack of sophistication. Molly Ivors, however, condemns Gabriel for favoring Europe over his own country. For instance, he vacations in Belgium and France rather than, as Molly thinks he should, the Irish Aran Islands. He avoids Irish politics, writing for British slanted The Daily Express. Gabriel responds that he is “sick” of Ireland, causing Molly to leave the party in a huff.

Conroy fancies himself as part of an international European elite. He wants to reject an identity as a provincial Irishman. He is so busy looking at the horizon beyond his own life that he misses what is in front of him, such as the fact his wife was in love with another man before she married him. 

Conroy is an autobiographical portrait of the young James Joyce, who also arrogantly rejected Ireland (see link below).