Baby names, house prices, car sales: How Ireland has changed in the last 50 years

The CSO said that, for many items in the consumer basket, prices from 1973 are not directly comparable, but said what was included in the basket “tells its own story”. File picture: Denis Minihane

Ireland’s mammoth changes over the 50 years since we joined the European Union have been outlined in a new release from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) on Tuesday, covering everything from house prices and our workforce to baby names and the cars we drive.

“This release charts some of the changes in Ireland’s economic and social history to mark this 50-year milestone,” the CSO said. “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.”