Irish Society in the 1950s

Little Change

1. Little had changed since 1922 – Life was harsh and poor 

2. 1950 – 50% of men and 25% of women worked in agriculture

3. Devalera (1943) ‘we dreamed…of a people who were satisfied with frugal comfort and devoted their leisure to things of the spirit…a people living the life that God desires that man should live’

4. Ireland was Rural and Catholic

5. The traditional, conservative values that underpinned this view continued to be held by Church and State leaders

Role of the Catholic Church

1. Dominant in 1950s Ireland

2. Exercised strong influence on government policy and the lives of ordinary people

3. The Church was rarely criticised and writings and activities were widely reported in newspapers

4. Government consulted bishops over laws

5. All teachers, nurses and doctors had to adhere to Catholic values in their work

6. A reference from the local priest was often necessary to get a job

Marriage and the Family

1. Marriage patterns had not changed since the 1880s

2. One in four remained unmarried for life

No divorce

3. Majority of women gave up work after marriage

4. The ‘marriage bar’ in the civil service

5. Women worked in menial jobs and received less pay than men

Unmarried Mothers

1. Unmarried mothers were harshly treated – abandoned by their families and forced to give up their children

2. Condemned for ‘immoral behaviour’ and confined to institutions – Magdalen Laundries

3. Ireland was portrayed as a ‘moral, God-fearing community’ and an example to other countries

Education

1. Most schools run by the Church – Nuns and Christian Brothers

2. 1950 –

          - 464,000 primary school

          - 47,000 secondary school

          - 10,200 sat the Inter Cert Exam

          - 4,500 sat the Leaving Cert Exam

3. Irish, English, Maths & Latin

4. Disaster for Irish economy – few educated workers with limited skills

Health

1. Many hospitals run by nuns

2. Doctors and nurses had to adhere to Catholic teaching

3. The attempt by Noel Browne to introduce the Mother and Child Scheme demonstrated the influence of the Catholic Church and the medical profession who opposed the scheme, leading to the resignation of Browne as Minister for Health.

4. The government established the Voluntary Health Insurance Board in 1957 to provide private health insurance for people who could afford to pay for it

5. The VHI led to an increasing two-tier health system where people with health insurance received preferential treatment.

 

Language and Culture

1. A new vibrancy in Irish culture

2. New writers and composers

3. Gael Linn established to promote Irish language

4. Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann set up to promote traditional music

5. Radio was extremely popular

6. People regularly went to the cinema