The Development of the Irish Economy
Can economics help us understand why the Irish Famine was so severe? What explains Ireland’s long economic boom of the eighteenth century? Why did the North and South develop differently? Is Ireland ‘rich’?
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Is it for me?
If you’re curious about the answers to these questions, the Centre for Economics, Policy and History is pleased to offer our free online course, The Development of the Irish Economy. This professional development opportunity examines Ireland’s remarkable journey of economic change over the past three centuries. The course explores the external and internal forces that have shaped the economy, the role of policy in driving progress or failure, and the key successes and setbacks along the way.
Course Structure
| Schedule: |
13/04/26: Introducing the Irish Economy
16/04/26, 4pm (UTC+1): Live session
20/04/26: The Long Eighteenth Century
27/04/26: The Famine and Its Legacy
04/05/26: Land, Revolution, Independence
11/05/26: Closure and Reopening
18/05/26: Becoming European
25/05/26: The Celtic Tiger, Peace and Brexit
04/06/26, 4pm (UTC+1): Live session
|
|---|---|
| Duration: | Eight weeks |
| Assessment: | Weekly Multiple Choice Questionnaires |
| Course fee: | Free |
| Closing date for registration: | 27/03/2026 |
Course Highlights
- Cutting-edge research: Led by Prof. Ronan Lyons, the course is supported by the latest and best Irish economic history research.
- All-Ireland academic expertise: Featuring contributions from academic experts from across Ireland and Northern Ireland.
- No prior knowledge necessary, this is an accessible history of Ireland, tailored for a general audience.
- Accessible: The course will be entirely online, and can be taken at the participants own schedule.
- ‘The Development of the Irish Economy’ is supported by the Higher Education Authority and is completely free.
Course Contributors
Áine Doran (UU)
Barra Roantree (TCD)
Chris Colvin (QUB)
David Jordan (QUB)
Frank Barry (TCD)
Graham Brownlow (QUB)
John Turner (QUB)
Martina Lawless (ESRI)
Patrick Walsh (TCD)
Learning Outcomes
Having completed this course, the participant will:
- Have a robust understanding of Irish economic history from the eighteenth century to the present day
- Be able to explain the mechanisms and system by which the Irish economy evolved during this period
- Appreciate the role of a number of case studies in the development of the Irish economy.
How will the course be delivered?
The course begins and ends with a live session, and six ‘offline’ sessions which include pre-recorded material hosted on Trinity College Dublin’s Blackboard platform. The pre-recorded material will be made available on a weekly basis.
The penultimate week will be a chance for reflection and consolidation, allowing participants to catch up on course content they may have missed before the closing live session.
Each ‘offline’ session features three or four pre-recorded pieces by Ronan Lyons, and two Research in Focus contributions by our guest speakers. Each session is approximately one hour long.
How will I be assessed?
Each ‘offline’ week of content will include a multiple-choice question (MCQ) quiz, which will form the basis for assessment. Successful completion of the seven MCQs is required to receive a certificate of course completion.
Registration:
Registration is for the spring/summer 2026 offering of this course is now open and will close on March 27th. To register, please fill in:
If you have any queries, please email cephoutreach@tcd.ie.