03 Oct 2005

THE LONG ROAD TO EUROPE:

Ireland's shift from isolation to European integration between 1945 and 1973 is a turning point in the history of twentieth Ireland. In light of the Celtic Tiger phenomenon of the past decade the 'Irish example' is much lauded among the Eastern,  Central and Southern European states. It is auspicious in this political context to revisit Ireland's road to Europe.  UCC will host a conference on Saturday next,  8 October to understand and explain:

• the integrationist path adopted by Ireland and
• its acceptance as a suitable candidate and, ultimately, member of the EEC.

Organised by Dr Mervyn O'Driscoll of UCC's Department of History and European Integration Studies, the Conference will draw on recent empirical research undertaken by several leading experts in the field into the many variables that impacted on this turnaround:

• Anglo-Irish relations
• Shifting Irish trade and economic policy
• Irish engagement and negotiations with numerous European organisations
• Ireland's relationships with the members of the EEC and the Commission. What was the EEC Commission's attitude to Irish membership for instance?
• Domestic political and social change
• Irish identity
• EEC accession rules and practices.

Speakers include:  Dr Niall Keogh who will speak on "Ireland's perspective on the European Defence Community,  the view of mulilateral diplomacy as seen from Paris". Dr Gary Murphy, School of Law and Government,  Dublin City University will discuss the policymaking process within Irish government  from the late 1950s and trace the evolution of thinking in the economic field in a paper titled"'Seeking Brendan's Mast': Seán Lemass and the move From Economic Nationalism to European Union".

"Following British Footsteps? Ireland and the EC, 1967-73" is the title of a paper by Dr Maurice FitzGerald, Department of Politics, International Relations and European Studies, University of Loughborough, UK.  This archive based presentation examines Ireland's entry into the European Communities (EC) in 1973, an accession which was only secured at the third time of asking, previous attempts having failed in 1961-63 and 1967. The paper examines that reactivated second application by the new government of Jack Lynch, before investigating in some detail the entry negotiations of 1970-72, the subsequent landslide referendum, and the country's final preparations for EC membership.

"The Irish Accession to the EC from an International Relations and European Studies Perspective" is the title of a paper by Dr Mervyn O'Driscoll, Department of History/European Integration Studies, University College, Cork (Irish Research Council in the Humanities and Social Sciences Research Fellow, 2005-6).  Dr O'Driscoll will discuss: What insights can we draw from the Irish road to Europe? What does it tell us about small state diplomacy, the changing international system and the European integration process? This paper will draw upon International Relations theory, the field of integration studies and historical research to place the Irish accession experience in a wider comparative context.

Professor Dermot Keogh of UCC's History Department sets his talk on "Ireland and European Integration" in the context of the debate on modernisation at the end of the 1950s.  He traces the emergence of consensus in government on the need to apply for full membership of the EEC and examines the planning behind the application of 1961/2.  Dermot Keogh evaluates the manner in which the Taoiseach Sean Lemass, supported by Dr Ken Whitaker, brought the Irish application through its different stages until it was rejected in January 1963.  His paper evaluates the policy debate within government and the senior civil service on Irish membership of the EEC.  He concludes with a look forward to the latter part of the decade and argues that Irish policy makers learned swiftly from the weaknesses of the early Irish application process.   

The Proceedings conclude with a paper by UCC's Dr Andrew McCarthy titled "Selling Europe to Irish Business in the 1960s".  The paper assesses reaction s within Ireland to the implications of EEC membership for Irish industry and business generally.

The Conference takes place on Saturday, 8 October, West Wing 5, University College Cork.

PROGRAMME

THE LONG ROAD TO EUROPE:
Ireland and European cooperation, 1945-1973
Saturday, 8 October 2005, West Wing 5
9.15am Registration
9.45am Introduction

10.00am Session 1
Ireland's perspective on the European Defence Community, the view of multilateral diplomacy as seen from Paris, Dr Niall Keogh, Department of History, Moscow State University
Ireland and European Integration, Professor Dermot Keogh, Department of History, UCC

11.45am Session 2
‘Seeking Brendan's Mast': Seán Lemass and the move From Economic Nationalism to European Union, Dr Gary Murphy, School of Law and Government, Dublin City University

2.00pm Session 3
Selling Europe to Irish Business in the 1960s, Dr Andrew McCarthy, Department of History, UCC
Learning from the failed ‘second attempt’? Ireland and the European Commission, 1966-68, Aoife Keogh, International Students Officer, University of Maynooth

3.45pm Session 4
Following British Footsteps? Ireland and the EC, 1967-73, Dr Maurice FitzGerald, Department of Politics, International Relations and European Studies, University of Loughborough, UK
The Irish Accession to the EC from an International Relations and European Studies Perspective, Dr Mervyn O’Driscoll, Department of History/European Integration Studies, UCC

5.00pm Conclusion

123MMcS