Towards Modern Ireland
Within three years de Valera had formed a new party called Fianna Fail, which translates as ‘Warriors of Ireland’. By 1932 his party had acquired power after claiming the majority of votes. With only two short periods of time out of office, de Valera held the post of Taoiseach (Prime Minister) until 1959, when he became President for a
further 14 years. His policies were largely insular and mirrored the Catholic Church on social issues. During World War II de Valera kept Ireland neutral and as a result Dublin only experienced one major bombing incursion from the German Luftwaffe.
After the war Fianna Fail were beaten in the election by Fine Gael. Though they were the descendants of the pro-treaty side, it was Fine Gael who oversaw the creation of the Republic of Ireland in 1949, which severed all ties with Britain by leaving the Commonwealth.
Dublin remained relatively immune from the political situation in Northern Ireland, as it does today, although in 1966 the IRA bombed the huge Nelson Column (larger than the one in Trafalgar Square). It’s only remaining piece, the massive head, is now on display in Dublin’s Civic Museum. In 1972 the British Embassy in Dublin was petrol-bombed in retaliation for the shooting of 13 civilians on a protest March in Londonderry in Northern Ireland, on what became known as Irelands second Bloody Sunday.
In 1972 Ireland joined what was then the European Community (it is now the EU) and the city prospered. In 1991 Dublin was the European City of Culture. This brought vast amounts of money resulting in the economic boom know as ‘The Celtic Tiger’.
Today Dublin is a vibrant, modern city sitting inside a modern European state. Dublin has become a favourite haunt for Stag and Hen parties from the UK, who are attracted to the nightlife in bohemian Temple Bar. Since the advent of Ryanair you can fly over from the UK or the rest of Europe just a few £s or Euros and people come to Dublin to shop, enjoy the sites, the culture, the food, the guinness and the craic.
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