Modern Dublin: Urban Change and the Irish Past, 1957-1973

In the 1960s, Dublin underwent a dramatic transformation — more than at any time since the 1700s. Old buildings were torn down, modern offices rose up, and suburbs expanded rapidly. At first, these changes were welcomed as signs of progress and national renewal. But as the decade wore on, public opinion shifted. People began to question whether this “modernization” was truly improving their lives — or erasing something precious about their city and identity.

Erika Hanna explores how different groups — from government planners and architects to students, preservationists, and housing activists — clashed over what Dublin should become. Their debates weren’t just about bricks and mortar. They were about values, memory, and what kind of society Ireland wanted to be after independence. The city became a battleground for competing visions of the future — and the past.

Using interviews, archival research, and cultural theory, Hanna brings the era to life with vivid stories and sharp analysis. She shows how ordinary Dubliners reacted to the sweeping changes around them — sometimes with hope, sometimes with anger, and sometimes with creative resistance. The book doesn’t just document buildings lost or built; it captures the emotional and political weight those changes carried.

What makes this book special is how it connects urban change to bigger questions about Irish identity. Was modernity something to embrace — or something that threatened the soul of the nation? Hanna doesn’t give easy answers. Instead, she invites readers to see the complexity — the good intentions, the unintended consequences, and the passionate voices that rose up to defend what they loved.

Whether you’re interested in cities, Irish history, or how societies navigate change, this book offers a thoughtful, human-centered look at a pivotal moment. It’s not just for academics — it’s for anyone who’s ever walked through a changing neighborhood and wondered what was lost… and what might still be saved.