The 1960s was a very important decade in Ireland. There were many key events, personalities and issues that shaped the decade.
The 1960s in Ireland was characterised by certain important issues: ● The Republic of Ireland had experienced serious unemployment and emigration during the 1950s, which contrasted with the prosperity of Europe and Britain. ● In the 1950s, government policy was based on protecting home industry by putting taxes on imports (protectionism).
● Emigration averaged 40,000 a year in that decade, workers’ income fell and there were fewer people working.
New economic policies were brought in in the 1960s to solve these problems.
● Ireland began to open a window to the wider world as prosperity increased during the 1960s. The economic changes led to important social changes (changes in society).
Explain why the 1960s was an important decade in Ireland
Key Words Economic change Social change Unemployment Emigration Modernising Civil rights
Unemployment march in Dublin in the 1950s
● Northern Ireland was ruled the same way it had been since 1920, with a unionist majority. But better education for Catholics and the example of the civil rights campaigns in America led to a civil rights campaign in Northern Ireland.
Key personalities
● ● ● ● ● ●
Seán Lemass
Donogh O’Malley Gay Byrne
President Kennedy Terence O’Neill Rev. Ian Paisley
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Key issues
Economic change Social change
● Women’s rights Civil rights
Modernisation ● ●
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Key events
First Programme for Economic Expansion
Announcement of free secondary education
Vatican II
Founding of Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association
Assessing Your Learning
1. What economic policy did Irish governments follow in the 1950s? 2. On average, how many emigrants left Ireland each year in the 1950s?
3. Give one key personality, one event and one issue that made the 1960s important in Irish history.
4. Explain the meaning of the key issue you select. 400