Are you still below? The Ford Marina Plant, Cork, 1917-1984

Abstract

In 1917 Henry Ford selected Cork for the first Ford factory outside North America. An exciting development for Ireland's economy, the Cork plant became a central feature of Ireland's industrial history. In its time. Ford's Irish experiment saw the burning of Cork, the birth of a new state, Civil War, World War II, and countless changes that impacted on his endeavor. This is the story of the Ford Marina plant, its economic and social impact as well as the ebb and flow of life on the marina as captured in interviews with former employees. Evocative photographs of plant construction, various vehicles in production visiting dignitaries, politicians, churchmen, and businessmen complement this chronicle.