Timeline

• c1700

  Quay Walls rise from the murky depths of the river, thanks to the entrepreneurship of men like John Mercer.

• 1880

  John Casey, later Seán O’Casey, is born.

• 1923

  Shadow of a Gunman, O’Casey’s first play to be accepted by Ireland’s National Theatre, The Abbey, is performed.

• 1928

  The Free State pound comes into existence pegged to the pound sterling which continued to be accepted on a one to one basis. O’Casey’s anti war play, The Silver Tassie is rejected by the Abbey and O’Casey leaves Ireland for good.

• 1964

  Seán O’Casey dies in England.

• 1969

  The Decimal Currency Act provides for the introduction of the new currency into Ireland.

• 1971

  Decimal Day, 15th February, replaces the old penny, ‘d’ with the new pence ‘p’. It also introduces the 50p coin in place of the 10 shilling note.  School children rejoice at no longer having to calculate in a currency where 240 pennies equalled £1, 20 shillings also equalled a £1 but 12 pence equalled a shilling.  The half crown was worth ⅛ of £1 and also 2 shillings and 6d .  The farthing was 1/48th of a shilling or 1/960th of £1 and although the actual coin had long since ceased to be mi

• 1979

  An exchange rate is introduced between the Irish pound and the pound sterling.  For the first time, Irish coins and notes will be produced in Ireland. The Irish punt is now linked to the German Deutsche mark.

• 1986

  Custom House Docks Area Renewal Act: a first step in regeneration for the area.

• 1987

  International Financial Services Centre set up.

• 1997

  Dublin Docklands Authority created.

• 1999

  The Euro comes into being as a virtual currency.

• 2002

  Euro notes and coins are introduced to Ireland. Bridges, symbols of connection and communication are featured on each of the seven notes.

• 2005

  The Seán O’Casey Bridge opens. Click to watch one of the sections being installed a few months earlier.