e Car Rental Dublin - The Act of Union

In 1801 the Act of Union was passed. This act ended the Irish Parliament and removed much of Dublin's status as a major city. Dublin transformed from a city of affluence into a city in decline. Farmers whose land was confiscated by English Settlers ended up in Dublin, and within a very short time Dublin developed large slums which lasted until the early 1910s. In 1910 an survey showed that 20,000 families were living in only one room.

With the easing of the penal laws, education was a viable option for the middle class, and entry into the professions was no longer barred to Roman Catholics.

When the 20th Century started political tensions were high. In 1914 the home rule party managed to get home rule for Ireland so that they could rule their own country. However, within months of home rule being grated it was revoked with the outbreak of World War I.

With the British Government concentrating on the War effort, the Irish Republican Brotherhood decided that it would be an ideal time to have an uprising. An Irish republic was claimed on the steps of the General Post Office on O'Connell Street, and many buildings of importance were occupied. While the rising was a failure, it paved the way for Ireland to be granted 26 of her counties back, which 6 remained under the control of the thrown (Northern Ireland). This agreement inevitably sparked civil war between pro treaty and anti treaty armies.