Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Stroll to Modernisation
Sean Lemass succeeded de Valera as Taoiseach (prime minister) in 1959 and set about fix-
ing the Irish economy, which he did so effectively that the rate of emigration soon halved.
While neighbouring London was swinging in the '60s, Dublin was definitely swaying.
Youngsters from rural communities poured into the expanding city and it seemed like the
good times were never going to end. But, almost inevitably, the economy slid back into re-
cession.
On the 50th anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising, Nelson's Pillar on O'Connell St was
partially blown up by the IRA and crowds cheered as the remainder was removed the fol-
lowing week. Republicanism was still prevalent and a new round of the 'Troubles' were
about to flair up in the North.
Ireland joined the European Economic Community (EEC), a forerunner to the European
Union (EU), in 1973 and got a significant leg-up from the organisation's coffers over the
following decades. But the tides of change were once again on the rise. Political instability
and an international recession did little to help hopes of economic recovery, and by the
early '80s emigration was once again a major issue. But Ireland - and Dublin in particular
- was growing increasingly liberal, and was straining at the shackles imposed on its social
and moral mores by a largely conservative Catholic Church. Politicians too were seen in a
new light as stories of corruption and cronyism became increasingly commonplace.
Dublin was hardly touched by the sectarian tensions that would pull Northern Ireland asun-
der, although 25 people died after three Loyalist car bombs exploded in the city in 1974.
Although Ireland remained neutral during WWII - as a way of pushing its independence - Dublin's North
Strand was hit by a 227kg German bomb on 31 May, 1941, killing more than 30 and injuring 90.
 
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