Luck and the Irish: A Brief History of Change, 1970-2000

From 1970, Irish history moved into a fast-forward phase - the Celtic Tiger had woken, and the rules for everything from gender roles and religion to international relations were being entirely rewritten. By the end of the twentieth century, Ireland had become a global brand, and the almost completely unexpected wave of prosperity had brought with it upheavals in economics, sexual mores and culture, as well as a shift in North-South attitudes.

Luck and the Irish examines how the country has weathered these last thirty years of change, and what these changes may mean in the long run. R. F Foster also looks at how characters as wide ranging as Charles Haughey, Bob Geldof and Mary Robinson have contributed to Ireland’s altered psyche, and uncovers some of the talent, scandals and political masterminds that have transformed Ireland - and its luck.