Richard Breen & Damian F Hannan 
Understanding Contemporary Ireland [PDF ebook] 
State, Class and Development in the Republic of Ireland

Thirty years ago the Irish State embarked on a programme of development which rapidly transformed the economy and with it Irish society. This book is about that transformation and its effects. In particular, it focuses on the relationship between the policies pursued by the State and the class structure of Ireland. It argues that, despite promises of general prosperity, the benefits of Ireland’s economic development have been very unevenly distributed, leading to a growing polarisation between social classes.