I found myself listening recently to the Irish Times podcast on the history of the Progressive Democrats. There’s no disputing that their impact as a small party was remarkable, but more significant is the broader narrative that kept reemerging throughout; namely that of Ireland in the 80s as an “impoverished basket case”, from which we were redeemed by the “Year Zero” of subsequent liberalisation.

It’s important to address this narrative because many on the right in Ireland fail to appreciate how much of our society and its liberal transformation is heavily driven by free-marketeer ideology. And vice versa, many on the left who decry that Ireland is being run by landlords and capitalistic interests fail (or often refuse) to see how heavily this same trend was driven by forces of social liberalism.

This article is premium content

Get unlimited access to Gript

Support Gript and get exclusive content, full archives and an ad-free experience

Subscribe

Already a member? Sign in here