Charting some of the changes in Ireland’s economic and social history to mark 50 years of Ireland in the EU.
Ireland joined the European Economic Community (ECC) on 01 January 1973 alongside the United Kingdom and Denmark, bringing the total membership at that time to nine. Over the last 50 years, Ireland has been transformed from an island on the periphery of Europe to a valued and prosperous member of the EU, which now has 27 member states.
This release charts some of the changes in Ireland’s economic and social history to mark this 50-year milestone. Although not all changes can be attributed to our membership of the EU, it has been a significant factor when looking at economic and social progress in Ireland.
The year 1973 was one of significant change in Ireland. In June Eamon De Valera stepped down as President of Ireland at the remarkable age of 90, and Erskine Childers was elected as the fourth president of Ireland. The year started with Jack Lynch as Taoiseach, but by March, Liam Cosgrave led a coalition Government of Fine Gael and Labour after a general election, ending 16 years of Fianna Fáil in Government.
Following a referendum, the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland was signed into law in January, removing the “special position” of the Roman Catholic Church and other named religions. Later that year the funeral of former Archbishop of Dublin John Charles McQuaid took place.
A referendum known as the Northern Ireland Border Poll took place in March 1973 on whether Northern Ireland should remain part of the United Kingdom or join the Republic of Ireland to form a united Ireland. Nationalists boycotted the referendum, and the result was an overwhelming majority for those who wished to remain in the UK.
Later in July of that year, one of the first instances of European legislation influencing Irish law occurred when the ban on employing married women, known as the Marriage Bar, was lifted with the enactment of the Civil Service (Employment of Married Women) Act 1973.
Monetary change had already started as our currency moved over to the decimal system in 1971, which saw the threepence, sixpence, and half-crown withdrawn, and the introduction of ½p, 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, and 50p coins with depictions of Irish wildlife and art from Irish manuscripts.
In March 1979, the Irish pound joined the European Monetary System (EMS) which resulted in a break with sterling for the first time since the inception of the State, and on 01 January 1999 Ireland officially adopted the euro as its currency. However, it was not until January 2002 that the first euro coins and notes were circulated. Each coin has a common image to symbolise the unity of the EU, while each central bank is allowed to design the reverse side, with Irish euro coins using the traditional image of a harp.
In the Irish charts, Whiskey in the Jar by Thin Lizzy, Long Haired Lover from Liverpool by Jimmy Osmond, and Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree by Dawn, featuring Tony Orlando, were among the No. 1 songs. The price of a 3.5lb bag of potatoes was, in Irish Pounds,16p, a pint of milk was 5p, and the price of a 2lb loaf of bread was 13p. The most popular baby names for boys and girls born in 1973 were Mary and John. The nominal average weekly earnings in 1973 were IR£30.12 and the average house price in was IR£7,095.
Some notable world events in 1973 included the Arab-Israeli war which caused significant economic shock across Europe, leading to a staggering 300% surge in oil prices on the global market. This unprecedented increase propelled oil prices from US$3 per barrel to US$12 per barrel. In 1973 the Paris Peace Accords were signed, marking the end of direct US involvement in the Vietnam War. It was also the year that two iconic landmarks were opened; the World Trade Centre in New York City, and the Sydney Opera House in Australia.
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