End of the road for Ford in Cork [video]

There was an air of optimism when Ireland took her place in the EEC on January 1, 1973, writes Miriam Nyhan Grey.

The country’s recent boom years were coming to an end. The impact of the oil crisis in 1973 was significant for a country that depended on imports for almost three-quarters of its energy requirements.

The knock-on effects on the balance of payments and inflation were severe and reflected, yet again, Ireland’s susceptibility to external economic pressure.