FOREIGN CARS IN IRELAND
OH YES THERE ARE AMERICAN CARS IN THE EU [THIS RED FORD WAS PARKED ON MOUNTJOY STREET]
A former manager from London, working with me in Dublin, once remarked on the number of 'foreign' cars in Ireland. It wasn't until someone pointed out that Ireland is an independent nation, not part of the UK, that she realised her error. Her initial perception stemmed from a lingering assumption that 'foreign' meant 'non-British,' a common oversight for those accustomed to the UK's previous relationship with Ireland. This anecdote, though lighthearted, underscores how easily assumptions about national identity and belonging can shape our perceptions.
However, Ireland has a significant, albeit often overlooked, history with the motor industry. Notably, Ireland played a crucial role in the early development and adoption of the automobile.
Ford's First Overseas Venture: Henry Ford established his first overseas manufacturing plant in Cork in 1917, marking a pivotal moment in both Ford's global expansion and Ireland's industrial history.
A Tragic First: In 1869, Mary Ward, an Irish scientist, became the world's first recorded automobile fatality, a somber reminder of the early risks associated with motorised transport.
The Pneumatic Tire Revolution: John Boyd Dunlop, hailing from Belfast, Northern Ireland, revolutionised transportation with his 1888 invention of the pneumatic tire. His first factory was then located in Dublin.
It is interesting to note, that even today in the EU, American cars can be found, as evidenced by their presence on streets such as Mountjoy Street in Dublin.
These historical connections, along with the everyday reality of diverse car brands on Irish roads, paint a rich and complex picture of Ireland's relationship with the automobile.
A former manager from London, working with me in Dublin, once remarked on the number of 'foreign' cars in Ireland. It wasn't until someone pointed out that Ireland is an independent nation, not part of the UK, that she realised her error. Her initial perception stemmed from a lingering assumption that 'foreign' meant 'non-British,' a common oversight for those accustomed to the UK's previous relationship with Ireland. This anecdote, though lighthearted, underscores how easily assumptions about national identity and belonging can shape our perceptions.
However, Ireland has a significant, albeit often overlooked, history with the motor industry. Notably, Ireland played a crucial role in the early development and adoption of the automobile.
Ford's First Overseas Venture: Henry Ford established his first overseas manufacturing plant in Cork in 1917, marking a pivotal moment in both Ford's global expansion and Ireland's industrial history.
A Tragic First: In 1869, Mary Ward, an Irish scientist, became the world's first recorded automobile fatality, a somber reminder of the early risks associated with motorised transport.
The Pneumatic Tire Revolution: John Boyd Dunlop, hailing from Belfast, Northern Ireland, revolutionised transportation with his 1888 invention of the pneumatic tire. His first factory was then located in Dublin.
It is interesting to note, that even today in the EU, American cars can be found, as evidenced by their presence on streets such as Mountjoy Street in Dublin.
These historical connections, along with the everyday reality of diverse car brands on Irish roads, paint a rich and complex picture of Ireland's relationship with the automobile.
FOREIGN CARS IN IRELAND