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Dublin - Event Notice
Thursday January 01 1970

"Ireland into EEC - The 1972 Debate"

category dublin | eu | event notice author Sunday November 03, 2013 21:48author by Frank Keoghan - People’s Movementauthor email post at people dot ieauthor address 25 Shanowen Crescent, Dublin 9author phone 087- 230 8330

An Interactive Art Exhibition

A new exhibition examining the referendum campaign in 1972 on Irish membership of the (then) EEC is due to be opened in Templebar on Saturday 16th November 2013.

Admission is free - Everyone Welcome

Artist Robert Ballagh to Launch new Exhibition at 7.00 pm on Saturday evening the 16th November

The referendum that took place on May 10th 1972 saw the crucial decision of Ireland joining the following year, 1973, forty years ago.

In 1972 the 6-week referendum campaign saw many political and cultural figures contributing to the debate in this once-in-a-lifetime vote. These included the late Garret Fitzgerald, Tom Barry, Alan Dukes, Desmond Fennell, Jack Lynch, Michael D. Higgins, Charlie Haughey, Mary Robinson, Declan Costello, Niall Tóibín, George Colley, and Luke Kelly.

At a time when an unprecedented economic crisis has prompted some to reassess Ireland’s
relationship with the EU, this exhibition looks at the aspirations and concerns captured in 1972 in
pamphlets, leaflets and election posters. Many of the key public policy decisions in political, economic
and social areas that shaped modern Ireland over the last generation can be traced back to our joining
the EEC

Some of the areas that came up for debate were Fisheries, Foreign Policy, Agriculture, and Industry and Labour issues. These issues are dealt with in the material on exhibit: posters, pamphlets, leaflets, notices of public meetings, internal bulletins for the campaign groups, and newspaper articles.

This is the first time that this type of exhibition has ever been done!

The “Ireland into EEC - The 1972 Debate” exhibition only has a short run before it goes on tour around the country: Saturday November 16th – Thursday the 21st in the Culture Box (opposite Charlie’s 11 and next door to The Stage Door coffee shop), 12 East Essex Street, Templebar, Dublin 2

Exhibition will run from Sat 16th to Thur 21st inclusive from 12.00 to 6.00. Free Admission

People’s Movement campaigns against any measures that further develop the EU into a federal state and to defend and enhance sovereignty, democracy and social justice in Ireland.

Patrons: Robert Ballagh, Cllr. Declan Bree, Cllr Catherine Connolly, Bob Crow, Raymond Deane, Rev. Terence P. McCaughey, Prof. John Maguire, Dervla Murphy, Joe Noonan, Cllr Seosamh O’Cuaig, Cllr Chris O’Leary, Cllr Cieran Perry, Thomas Pringle TD.

Related Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/533130663436781/

Comments (10 of 10)

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author by can we get out? - None - a citizenpublication date Sun Nov 03, 2013 21:58author address author phone

a timely exhibition

It would be interesting to see what kinda arguments people were making at the time, and the organisations involved in the campaigning.

Peoples attitude have changed to Europe because the thing that my parents voted on in 1972 has changed into something completely different.

Irish society needs to have a conversation about whether we should remain in the EU.

author by citizen of superstatepublication date Mon Nov 04, 2013 03:15author address author phone

This year marks the 40th anniversary of European accession!

Where did the last 10 years go?

I had to check online if anything was done by officialdom to mark the occasion. There were some commemorative events this year to mark the 40th anniversary, believe it or not! They were very low-key but they were there. See here
http://www.thejournal.ie/40th-anniverary-eu-accession-9...2013/

Nothing on the scale of the “EU30” self-congratulatory pomp and splendour 10 years ago. The balloons, the children's choir, the pull-out edition in the mainstream rags. Very different this year.

I'll prob miss the launch :(
but i'll go in and have a gawk at the exhibition mid-week after work.

author by punterpublication date Mon Nov 04, 2013 04:24author address author phone

I think it is a timely exhibition. Attenders can match the predictions made in 1972 with what has actually happened. We can see if government and newspaper assurances at the time have held water or have been proved to be misleading.

Is this an art exhibition or is it a historical-political exhibition? Would it be considered to have an aura of artistic content making it eligible for exhibition in art galleries around the country? If so, can it be called conceptualist art / installation art? Will it be reviewed by art critics among others? I'd be interested to read what they might think of it as art, apart from the politics and history.

author by Tpublication date Mon Nov 04, 2013 10:33author address author phone

Re: "Attenders can match the predictions made in 1972 with what has actually happened. We can see if government and newspaper assurances at the time have held water or have been proved to be misleading..."

I think the fact that on the same weekend and there is a Conference on: The EU - The Military Dimension says a fair amount about one aspect of the EEC/EU and what it has become and where it is heading.

See http://www.indymedia.ie/article/104221 for details

author by Crazy Catpublication date Mon Nov 04, 2013 10:57author address author phone

And what about these water cuts I'm reading about in Dublin. Wow, That is some progress!! All that money wasted....

author by fredpublication date Mon Nov 04, 2013 21:01author address author phone

Don't worry about those water problems. Water service privatisation will solve everything just like it did in Bolivia. (yeah right!)

http://www.thenation.com/article/politics-water-bolivia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_privatization_in_Bo...livia
Europe 2013 is starting to look a lot more like South America in the 1990's for the smaller countries who have had their economies similarly destroyed by financial terrorists.

author by O'Quislingpublication date Thu Nov 07, 2013 12:16author address author phone

Wow! The People’s Movement have got 418 likes since the Exhibition was first announced.

If you are on Facebook please do 2 things.
1) Share this link on your page https://www.facebook.com/events/533130663436781/
2) invite 5 of your friends to like "The People’s Movement" page. Thanks

author by where's our Sovereignty?publication date Mon Nov 11, 2013 23:06author address author phone

http://www.rte.ie/archives/exhibitions/1667-being-europ...-eec/
take a minute to watch this footage from 1972, well worth a watch

author by Pearse Monnet - Peoples Movementpublication date Tue Nov 12, 2013 01:04author address author phone

This coming Saturday a new interactive Exhibition will be Launched by artist Robert Ballagh at 7.00 pm
- Saturday evening the 16th November

The “Ireland into EEC - The 1972 Debate” exhibition will last from 10 in the morning on Saturday 16th November until 4.30 on Thursday the 21st in the Culture Box

For those of you not familiar with the location of the host venue of the exhibition follow these directions. . . . .

Pictured on top is said Culture Box
- It is in East Essex Street, Templebar.
- This venue is opposite Charlie’s 2 Chinese restaurant and next door to The Stage Door coffee shop

Pictured on the bottom is a photo taken from the Culture Box
- To the left is Fitzsimmons’
- To the right is Bad Bobs, Project Arts Centre and further up the street Connolly Books and the New Theatre

Front of Templebar Culture Box
Front of Templebar Culture Box

Essex Street from Culture Box door
Essex Street from Culture Box door

author by Pearse Monnet - Peoples Movementpublication date Fri Nov 15, 2013 11:02author address author phone

Look at the once-off news-sheets and special issue editions of regular newspapers produced for the 1972 Referendum Campaign outlining arguments in favour and against Ireland joining the EEC (EU)
The “Ireland into EEC - The 1972 Debate” Exhibition will be Launched at 7.00 pm on Saturday evening the 16th November 2013 in the Culture Box (opposite Charlie’s 11 and next door to The Stage Door coffee shop), 12 East Essex Street, Templebar, Dublin 2
Exhibition will run from Sat 16th to Thur 21st inclusive from 12.00 to 6.00
Free Admission

Related Link: http://www.people.ie

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/104220

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