Seven decades prior, in the year of 1954, there existed a book known as The Vanishing Irish, published by a prominent London book publishing house. The book was curated by John O’Brien, an American clergyman and lecturer at Notre Dame University. The tome featured contributions from renowned personalities of the time such as Paul Vincent Carroll, Shane Leslie, Seán O’Faoláin, and Bryan MacMahon.
Central to the manuscript were themes around emigration and insufficient, delayed marriages. O’Faoláin speculated that should the population reduction persist, Irish people would be comparable to sporadic chaste rabbits nibbling along the fringes of Australia.
Mary Frances Keating, one of the female authors, laid emphasis on the lack of enthusiasm among Irish men to wed, coining them as “marriage-shy”. Kathleen Norris wrapped her piece with a reflection from 19th-century poet Tom Moore, wondering whether the men of Ireland were too virtuous or stone-hearted to be enticed by women or wealth.
A proposition for the establishment of marriage and family allowances, funded by a “system of graded taxation” imposed on old maids (above 25 years) and bachelors (beyond 30 years), was brought forward by Holy Ghost priest Patrick Noonan. Carroll contrasted the minimalistic tendencies of Irish men with the materialistic Irish women hidden “beneath the enticing veils and the beguiling petticoats and the doe-like eyes.”
Despite the fears concerning the ‘disappearance of the Irish’ in the 1950s, these fears proved to be baseless at the time and remain so today.
Canon John Hayes, the founder of Muintir na Tíre, offered a more optimistic perspective. He stressed on the urgency to discover solutions, highlighting the economic field as the primary area of focus. He underscored the significance of local sports and drama clubs and radiated hope.
John D Sheridan, a reputable writer, proposed relocating some government departments beyond the confines of Dublin, an advice which was implemented many years later. MacMahon supported De Valera’s idea of constructing a secondary accommodation on each farm, where the old farmer and his wife could retire to once their son took over the farm.
A commission had been set up in preceding years, tasked with examining the situation unfolding at the time. This Commission on Emigration and other Population Problems issued a remarkable report published in 1954, coinciding with the release of The Vanishing Irish.
Dr James Beddy, who had been a schoolmate of Seán Lemass (later taoiseach), presided over this commission which was composed of 24 members, including Dr James. One member resigned shortly after appointment whilst another passed away in 1952. The roster also included a Church of Ireland clergyman, three Catholic priests, two of which were Jesuits, whilst the third rose to the rank of bishop. Notably, women only made up two of the 24.
Subsequent to the release of The Vanishing Irish and the Commission’s report, the population of Ireland began to increase. In contrast to the present-day Irish economy, where immigration is a major concern, these texts seem almost like fictional works. However, these documents were very much based on real events during their time, albeit surrounded by many mysteries.
During the time the Commission’s report was released, the average marriage age in Ireland stood at 28 for women and 33.1 for men. Fast forward to 2023, statistics present an average age of 35.8 for women and 37.7 for men in heterosexual marriages, and 38 for women and 40.8 for men in homosexual unions.
The rise in average marriage age suggests a significant change since the era of The Vanishing Irish. Alternatively, one could question whether it is the institution of marriage that is in decline. Current data indicates that over 40 per cent of births now occur outside of marriage or civil partnership.
Chief Justice Donal O’Donnell, in a recent Supreme Court judgment on the O’Meara case, was said to have described the legal differentiation between married and unmarried couples as “arbitrary and capricious”.
However, the transformation in the birth pattern has not hindered population growth. At the time when these texts were published, Ireland’s population was less than three million whereas it now surpasses five million.
The current vitality of the Irish economy, which is clearly demonstrated, supports a population size only envisioned previously by authors. The economy is in part buoyed by immigrant labour, confirmed by any visit to hospitals, eateries, petrol stations, or construction areas. Much of the employment sector hinges on these immigrants, and they also contribute significantly to the population growth, with over one in five newborns being from foreign-born mothers.
Dr Finola Kennedy, a credited economist and author, has penned a variety of works such as ‘Cottage to Creche: Family Change in Ireland’ (2001), ‘Frank Duff: A Life Story’ (2011), and ‘Local Matters: Parish, Local Government and Community in Ireland’ (2022).