Life during the Emergency

• Shortages and Rationing:

  • Ireland relied on imports of food and fuel, which became a problem when German submarines stopped all British ships leaving Britain.
  • Sean Lemass started the Irish Shipping Company, to transport goods to Ireland with 15 ships. Fuel and food remained in short supply.
  • Lemass also introduced the Compulsory Tillage Scheme, where farmers were required to till a certain acreage of land.
  • Rationing of food, clothing, and fuel was introduced to combat the shortages. This limited the amount of goods a person could use.
• Fuel Shortages and Glimmer men:

  • As electricity and petrol were in short supply, the government introduced glimmer men, who were government inspectors coming house to house to ensure resources weren't overused.
  • If resources were overused, you could be cut off of the resource or be prosecuted in court.