The motorcar changed Ireland irrevocably. The Motorcar in Ireland will
offer an overall historical assessment of the development of the
motorcar within Ireland and its role as a modernizing force impacting
and influencing change on the island between the years 1896-1939. It
also determines the nature of the relationships that developed between
the motorcar, the state and the motor industry during this period, and
how these groups encouraged or discouraged the development of car
culture within Ireland. Demonstrating the impact that the motorcar had,
consideration is also paid to how the popularization of the car
influenced legislation around road construction and the development of
industries subsidiary to the motor industry, including oil.
The Motorcar in Ireland includes illustrations and stories researched
from a variety of private and public archives from across Ireland and
the UK, including the Royal Irish Automobile Club (RIAC), which brings
the fascinating story of the early years of the motorcar to life with
great color and humor.