1950's Cork was a time of optimism when Ford returned to full production

The post-war era saw a return to full production in Cork, but the economic path wasn’t always smooth. Some workers sailed to Dagenham, while those who stayed saw plenty of VIP guests.

The start of the 1950s was a time of great optimism. The ravages of the war in Europe were fading and a new consumerism was starting to take hold, fuelling a boom in car sales worldwide.

In the late 1940s, Ford in Cork had returned to full production and the new decade began well, with the 75,000th vehicle being driven off the assembly line at the Marina on July 18, 1950.