Reprieve for Ford plant in Cork during a roller coaster decade

The 1970's were a time of highs and lows for workers at the Marina. As models like the Capri and Escort kept Ford as a brand leader, the global economy and industrial strife had adverse effects.

For Ford staff and management in Cork, the 1970s was a rollercoaster ride of highs and lows — not just in terms of sales, profits and turnover, but in regards to the mood of the workforce and the issue of the plant’s future.

As the decade began, Foreign Affairs Minister Patrick Hillery was deep in negotiations for Ireland to join the EEC.