Stuck in the Past: Nostalgia’s Grip on Irish Young Adults

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Nostalgia is an all too familiar thing to all of us. Think that outdated children’s tv show that looks a look creepier than you remembered, a song of a band you can’t name off the top of your head, or a childhood video game you played to death – where the graphics are so much worse than you remembered.

Recently, there has been a noticeable increase in nostalgia as a trend, whether in art, music, or fashion. Our childhoods and the years of the 90 and 2000s seem to be re-emerging in the media.

The reason for this phenomenon is that young adults find comfort in the form of nostalgia – bringing us back to what we see as better times.

Right now, young adults in Ireland struggle with economic pressures—such as a lack of housing, limited social life, and absence of friends—it’s easy to revert to old habits when you haven’t fully moved on from your environment.

One obvious reason young adults relate to nostalgia and find it comforting is that many are still living at home. Most young adults reside in their childhood bedrooms, which, although perhaps renovated, still likely contain remnants of their youth—old pictures, teddy bears, or figurines.

While these items may be tucked away under the bed, the constant familiarity of ‘happier, easier times’ lures us back and keeps us anchored in the past, even as we should be looking toward the future.

Moreover, as the housing crisis posing a significant fear for young adults in Ireland, many must make the difficult decision to move abroad—whether for a more affordable lifestyle or greater opportunities.

With childhood friends now living far away, often only seen a couple of times a year, young adults inevitably miss those connections and turn to the past to feel closer to them in a way that no Zoom call can replicate.

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This lack of friends in local areas also impacts young adults’ social lives. Nights out or a pint at the local pub lose their appeal when the only company is a group of underage people from secondary school. Additionally, more young people choosing sobriety means there’s a diminishing social element in many people’s lives. While there are alternative ways to meet and catch up with friends, the cultural norm of drinking has shifted, leading many to prefer staying indoors rather than going out.

This regression can remind us of our pre-teen years, before teenage discos, when we watched Disney classics or Barbie movies. Now, young adults favour these same activities, reflecting the stagnation many of us experience while living in Ireland, especially at home.

For Gen Z, TV shows like Hannah Montana, Wizards of Waverly Place and The Suite Life of Zack and Cody are being rewatched on Disney+ – not by kids, but by adults wishing to immerse themselves in that Disney magic.

We’re seeing the same with video games like the Sims or FIFA, that keep the same concept and instead updated every year or so, reviving that childhood nostalgia.

Given the comfort that nostalgia can provide, it’s no wonder so many people gravitate towards it. It’s astonishing how particular years in a person’s life can have such a profound effect, and living a similar life can transport you back to that childlike state.

With this being the reality for many young people, the hope is that Ireland improves so the younger generations can stop looking into the past and move towards a more promising future.

Until then though, there’s always that ’90s film to rewatch.

Words by Alyssa O’Sullivan