1970 - 1980

News

The population of the Republic of Ireland increases to 3,368,000.

Violence and unrest continues in Northern Ireland. Many people are killed and injured.

1971 - Decimal currency is introduced. New bank notes and coins are introduced. There are now 100 pence in £1.

1973 - Ireland joins the Common Market (European Union).

1973 - An oil crisis means that there is a shortage of petrol. Cars queue outside petrol stations and there is rationing. After this, the price of oil increases. This causes many factories to close.

1977- The first McDonalds restaurant opens in Ireland.

1979 - Pope John Paul II visits Ireland. He is the first pope to do so. Huge crows turn out to greet him. In Dublin's Phoenix Park, an estimated 1,000,000 people greet him. This is believed to be one of the largest crowds ever to assemble in Ireland.

O Connell Street 1970's

Talking Points

Name the different forms of transport in use on O Connell Bridge?
Why has the traffic stopped?
Are there any new advertisements visible on O Connell Street?
Name some foods and drinks from today that were not popular in the 1970's.
What is 'missing' from the skyline of O Connell Street?
Compare the above photograph with the one of O Connell Street in 1944.

Home Life

All telephones now use direct dial to get through to another number. Before this, a person rang the operator and asked to be connected to the number required.

Colour television is introduced and the number of homes with television grows. While areas such as Dublin have access to the BBC, most areas have just one television channel. A second television channel, Network 2 opens. This screens programmes from overseas. A second radio station 2 FM is launched. This is mainly for young people and plays a lot of music.

Following on from joining the European Union, production rises on farms. New breeds such as Friesan cows are introduced and produce more milk. At the same time, the number of farmers is declining. Machines now do much of the work done by people in former yeas.

Natural gas is discovered off the Cork coast. The gas is brought ashore and is sold by Bord Gais. It is used for cooking, heating and the generation of electricity.

There is increased use of manmade materials for building. Pipes are now made of plastic. Tiles are used instead of natural slate for roofing.

Achievements and Discoveries

1971 - The first battery-powered pocket calculator goes on sale in America. It weighs more than 1 kg and is limited to addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. It sells for $150!

1972 - In New York the World Trade Center opens. It is 411 m high (1,350 ft) making it the tallest building in the world at the time. The World Trade Center was destroyed in an attack on September 11th, 2001.

1973 - In Australia, the Sydney Opera House is completed. It is to become one of the best known buildings in the world.

1975 - Venera 9 Spacecraft lands on Venus and transmits back pictures of the planet.

1976 - Concorde, the supersonic passenger jet goes into service. The journey from London to New York can now be made in under 4 hours!

Sport

I970 - Brazil win the World Cup for the third time beating Italy 4 - 1 in the final.

1972 - In the Munich Olympics, American Mark Spitz wins 7 gold medals in swimming all in world record times.

1974 - Muhammad Ali knocks out George Foreman in the 8th round to regain the World Heavyweight boxing title.

1975 - John Walker of New Zealand becomes the first man to run a mile in under 3 mins 50 secs.

1976 - In the Montreal Olympics, Romanian Nadia Comaneci is the first gymnast to be awarded the maximum score of 10 points. She wins 3 gold and 1 silver medal at the games.

1978 - Penny Dean, a 23 year old American, swims the English Channel in a new record of 7 hours 42 mins.

Kerry and Dublin footballers dominate the All-Ireland Championships.

Fashion and Entertainment

Dana wins the Eurovision Song Contest.

'Teenybop' groups such as The Bay City Rollers are popular in the music charts. Platform shoes are in fashion! Long hair and Afro hairstyles are popular. The film "Saturday Night Fever" popularizes disco dancing.

There is a revival of interest in traditional Irish music. Much of this stems from the work of Sean O Riada who arranged Irish music in a new way.

Links

To learn more about......

The European Union http://europa.eu.int/abc/eu_members/ireland/index_en.htm

The Eurovision www.jcwchan.clara.co.uk/euro_ireland.htm

The Olympic Games www.olympic.org/uk/games/index_uk.asp

Irish music www.comhaltas.com

Timeline Home Project Description Feedback		1970 - 1980 News The population of the Republic of Ireland increases to 3,368,000. Violence and unrest continues in Northern Ireland. Many people are killed and injured. 1971 - Decimal currency is introduced. New bank notes and coins are introduced. There are now 100 pence in £1. 1973 - Ireland joins the Common Market (European Union). 1973 - An oil crisis means that there is a shortage of petrol. Cars queue outside petrol stations and there is rationing. After this, the price of oil increases. This causes many factories to close. 1977- The first McDonalds restaurant opens in Ireland. 1979 - Pope John Paul II visits Ireland. He is the first pope to do so. Huge crows turn out to greet him. In Dublin's Phoenix Park, an estimated 1,000,000 people greet him. This is believed to be one of the largest crowds ever to assemble in Ireland. O Connell Street 1970's Talking Points Name the different forms of transport in use on O Connell Bridge? Why has the traffic stopped? Are there any new advertisements visible on O Connell Street? Name some foods and drinks from today that were not popular in the 1970's. What is 'missing' from the skyline of O Connell Street? Compare the above photograph with the one of O Connell Street in 1944. Home Life All telephones now use direct dial to get through to another number. Before this, a person rang the operator and asked to be connected to the number required. Colour television is introduced and the number of homes with television grows. While areas such as Dublin have access to the BBC, most areas have just one television channel. A second television channel, Network 2 opens. This screens programmes from overseas. A second radio station 2 FM is launched. This is mainly for young people and plays a lot of music. Following on from joining the European Union, production rises on farms. New breeds such as Friesan cows are introduced and produce more milk. At the same time, the number of farmers is declining. Machines now do much of the work done by people in former yeas. Natural gas is discovered off the Cork coast. The gas is brought ashore and is sold by Bord Gais. It is used for cooking, heating and the generation of electricity. There is increased use of manmade materials for building. Pipes are now made of plastic. Tiles are used instead of natural slate for roofing. Achievements and Discoveries 1971 - The first battery-powered pocket calculator goes on sale in America. It weighs more than 1 kg and is limited to addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. It sells for $150! 1972 - In New York the World Trade Center opens. It is 411 m high (1,350 ft) making it the tallest building in the world at the time. The World Trade Center was destroyed in an attack on September 11th, 2001. 1973 - In Australia, the Sydney Opera House is completed. It is to become one of the best known buildings in the world. 1975 - Venera 9 Spacecraft lands on Venus and transmits back pictures of the planet. 1976 - Concorde, the supersonic passenger jet goes into service. The journey from London to New York can now be made in under 4 hours! Sport I970 - Brazil win the World Cup for the third time beating Italy 4 - 1 in the final. 1972 - In the Munich Olympics, American Mark Spitz wins 7 gold medals in swimming all in world record times. 1974 - Muhammad Ali knocks out George Foreman in the 8th round to regain the World Heavyweight boxing title. 1975 - John Walker of New Zealand becomes the first man to run a mile in under 3 mins 50 secs. 1976 - In the Montreal Olympics, Romanian Nadia Comaneci is the first gymnast to be awarded the maximum score of 10 points. She wins 3 gold and 1 silver medal at the games. 1978 - Penny Dean, a 23 year old American, swims the English Channel in a new record of 7 hours 42 mins. Kerry and Dublin footballers dominate the All-Ireland Championships. Fashion and Entertainment Dana wins the Eurovision Song Contest. 'Teenybop' groups such as The Bay City Rollers are popular in the music charts. Platform shoes are in fashion! Long hair and Afro hairstyles are popular. The film "Saturday Night Fever" popularizes disco dancing. There is a revival of interest in traditional Irish music. Much of this stems from the work of Sean O Riada who arranged Irish music in a new way. Links To learn more about...... The European Union http://europa.eu.int/abc/eu_members/ireland/index_en.htm The Eurovision www.jcwchan.clara.co.uk/euro_ireland.htm The Olympic Games www.olympic.org/uk/games/index_uk.asp Irish music www.comhaltas.com
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