While the 30-year war in the 6-counties overshadowed this period there were huge changes in the political, social and cultural life of the 26-counties, the Republic of Ireland.

Significant events related to the struggle for national independence included the Arms Crisis of 1970; the 1974 loyalist bombings in Dublin and Monaghan; media censorship; changes on policy and leadership inside the IRA and Sinn Fein; the blanket and dirty protests that led to the hunger strikes in 1980 and 1981; the Maze prison break out; the electoral breakthrough of Sinn Fein; the Anglo Irish Agreement 1985; the IRA campaign in England; the ceasefires in 1994 and 1996; and the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.

The cultural and social life of the Republic changed dramatically as people turned away from conservative and catholic values and progressives fought for a broad range of rights including the Women's Right to Choose, an end to…