Page 52 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Ireland

50  INTRODUCING IRELAND

Modern Ireland

Since joining the European Economic Community (now the EU)
in 1973, the Irish Republic has done much to modernize its
traditional rural-based economy. There have been social 1972 Bloody Sunday –
changes too and divorce has become legalized. Meanwhile, British soldiers shoot dead
Northern Ireland has lived through more than 25 years of 13 demonstrators in Derry.
Northern Ireland
unrest. But recent peace agreements have brought new hope, Parliament is suspended
especially since the inauguration in 1998 of the Northern Ireland and direct rule from 1985 Barry McGuigan beats the
Westminster imposed
Assembly. The power-sharing Sinn Féin and DUP government is Panamanian, Eusebio Pedroza, for
addressing the final stumbling blocks of policing and justice. world featherweight boxing title
1976 Organizers
of the Ulster
Peace Movement,
Mairead Corrigan
and Betty
Williams, are
awarded the
Nobel Peace
Prize in Oslo
1969 Violent clashes between 1982 Rising debt
1956 IRA the police and demonstrators and unemploy-
launches a
1949 New government terrorism in Belfast and Derry. British ment lead to
under John A Costello. campaign along troops sent to restore order economic crisis
Country changes name the border with and instability.
from Éire to Republic of Northern Ireland 1967 Northern Ireland Civil Three elections are
Ireland and leaves which lasts Rights Association is set up held in two years
British Commonwealth to fight discrimination
until 1962 against Catholics
1940 1950 1960 1970 1980
1940 1950 1960 1970 1980
1973 The
Republic joins
1955 Republic
of Ireland joins the European
United Nations Economic
Com munity.
Membership
has given the
1959 Eamon de Valera country access
resigns as Taoiseach to much-needed
(Prime Min ister) and is development
later elected President grants
1979 Pope John Paul II
visits Ireland and celebrates
Mass in Dublin’s Phoenix
Park, in front of more than a
million people

1963 John F Kennedy, the first
American President of Irish Catholic
descent, visits Ireland. He is
pictured here with President
Eamon de Valera
1969 Samuel Beckett, seen here
rehearsing one of his own plays, is
awarded the Nobel Prize in
1947 Statue of Queen Victoria is
removed from the courtyard in front literature, but does not go to
of the Irish Parliament in Dublin Stockholm to receive it

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