1950s - Ireland's Lost

• Economic crisis:

  • Governments used high tariffs to prevent foreign competition
  • Lack of foreign competition led to Irish businesses being badly run
  • Little to no money to invest in the economy, along with no competition led to high unemployment
• Social problems:

  • Due to very few jobs in Ireland, many emigrated to other countires, depopulating the rural areas
• Political instability:

  • Ireland was led by men such as De Valera, who led Ireland in the 1930s with a conservative style and an old way of doing things
  • This led to weak parties or a group of parties leading Ireland, being unable to tackle issues