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Economic Analysis Of Ireland

Brief History and Economic Analysis of

The Republic of Ireland



Brian Graham
D301-International Business Environment
Indiana University East
Instructor Woods

The republic of Ireland was a member of the British Commonwealth until 1949 when it declared its independence.   After separating from Britain, the island was separated into two countries; The Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.   While the Republic of Ireland became completely independent from British rule, Northern Ireland still remained under it.   Following the break and into the twenty first century there have been years of conflict between the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and The United Kingdom. (The Irish Republican Army, 1996) The other group consisted of citizens of Northern Ireland who wanted to remain under British rule and the British Army itself.   The IRA used tactics such as assassinations, bombings, kidnappings, extortion, and robbery to fight the British loyalists, while the British Army used general infantry and Special Forces to combat the IRA.   (The Irish Republican Army, 1996)   As the decades rolled by the conflict left thousands of people dead from The Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Britain.  
Approximately a decade ago in April 1998, peace was finally reached by the signing of the Good Friday Accord.   Its signatory’s renounced violence, established a new Northern Ireland legislative body, increased cross-border ties, and freed prisoners. In October 2001, the IRA began “decommissioning” or disarming its arsenal, an action the unionists have long demanded as proof of the IRA’s commitment to peace and to pursuing a purely political strategy.   Though there have been some obstacles to this agreement since 1998, the Good Friday Accord has been the single greatest achievement in gaining peace in the area.   (Provisional Irish Republican Army, 2005)....