The Republic of Ireland in 1958 abandoned its self-imposed isolation from the modern world for the promise of social and economic progress. State initiatives to promote industrial development coincided with an expanding world economy, and served to promote rapid and radical change in almost every aspect of Irish society. However, the massive growth served to reinforce, not weaken the class barriers, and the policies of successive governments generated change without achieving economic prosperity. The aim of this study is to assemble and interpret these economic and social changes since 1960, placing them in the context of the Irish experience since independence, and comparing Ireland's problems and economic progress to that of other developed countries. The authors argue that the late and rapid economic development transformed the Republic of Ireland without securing either economic prosperity or equality of opportunity.