O Connell Bridge Dublin Ireland 1940s Dublin in the 1940swas a city undergoing change, characterized by the tail end of the Catholic Church's dominance, significant economic stagnation leading to high emigration, and a blend of rural and urban life where farming still took place within city limits. Construction projects to clear slums began during this decade, alongside a modernization effort that would later be criticized for damaging historic architecture. | Irelands past in Motion