ABSTRACT
During the first half of the nineteenth century shipbuilding was a minor industry in Ireland, however between the mid-nineteenth century and the First World War it became the fastest growing Irish industry. By the early twentieth century the two major shipyards of Belfast had become by far the largest industrial employers in Ireland and the industry was the only branch of ironworking and engineering which accounted for a significant share of UKoutput by 1907.1 As such, it was something of an exception to the general rule, and the factors which contributed to its development will be explored in this chapter. Merchant tonnage accounted for the bulk of Irish shipbuilding in this period, so naval construction will not be dealt with in any great depth in this chapter.2
