4.1 Livestock exports from Ireland1, 1887 to 1919 | ||||
Time period | Average annual exports from Ireland | |||
Cattle | Sheep | Pigs | Total cattle, sheep & pigs | |
1887-9 | 692,604 | 599,946 | 499,814 | 1,792,364 |
1897-9 | 773,882 | 836,642 | 657,548 | 2,268,072 |
1907-9 | 847,023 | 750,986 | 398,837 | 1,996,846 |
1917-9 | 791,410 | 628,376 | 188,651 | 1,608,437 |
Source: Modern Irish Trade and Industry (1920), E.J. Riordan | ||||
1 Data in this table refers to the island of Ireland. |
Photo: Flock of sheep
4.2 Imports and exports of butter and margarine, 1910 to 1918 | ||||||||||
Butter | Margarine | Exports less imports | ||||||||
Imports | Exports | Imports | Exports | Butter | Margarine | |||||
Cwts | £ | Cwts | £ | Cwts | £ | Cwts | £ | £ | £ | |
1910 | 77,945 | 477,798 | 698,907 | 3,584,810 | 54,376 | 142,737 | 71,144 | 186,753 | 3,107,012 | 44,016 |
1911 | 88,472 | 535,207 | 688,362 | 3,671,264 | 56,163 | 146,024 | 73,171 | 190,245 | 3,136,057 | 44,221 |
1912 | 65,731 | 432,555 | 778,778 | 4,159,972 | 75,470 | 196,222 | 63,739 | 165,721 | 3,727,417 | -30,501 |
1913 | 71,585 | 454,831 | 725,368 | 3,735,645 | 83,807 | 215,803 | 58,091 | 149,584 | 3,280,814 | -66,219 |
1914 | 73,935 | 467,462 | 855,608 | 4,641,673 | 86,434 | 203,120 | 61,982 | 145,658 | 4,174,211 | -57,462 |
1915 | 60,048 | 443,942 | 838,089 | 5,751,385 | 109,278 | 305,978 | 84,038 | 235,306 | 5,307,443 | -70,672 |
1916 | 42,201 | 369,905 | 764,456 | 6,163,427 | 141,751 | 462,463 | 163,219 | 457,013 | 5,793,522 | -5,450 |
1917 | 29,056 | 303,877 | 675,330 | 6,896,808 | 149,699 | 643,706 | 244,382 | 1,050,843 | 6,592,931 | 407,137 |
1918 | 4,464 | 55,800 | 455,911 | 5,436,739 | 19,912 | 103,542 | 126,353 | 657,036 | 5,380,939 | 553,494 |
Source: Modern Irish Trade and Industry (1920), E. J. Riordan | ||||||||||
1 Data in this table refers to the island of Ireland. |
Photo: Arundel Square, Waterford city 1900
Butter exports | Butter imports | Margarine exports | Margarine imports | |
1910 | 698907 | 77945 | 71144 | 54376 |
1911 | 688362 | 88472 | 73171 | 56163 |
1912 | 778778 | 65731 | 63739 | 75470 |
1913 | 725368 | 71585 | 58091 | 83807 |
1914 | 855608 | 73935 | 61982 | 86434 |
1915 | 838089 | 60048 | 84038 | 109278 |
1916 | 764456 | 42201 | 163219 | 141751 |
1917 | 675330 | 29056 | 244382 | 149699 |
1918 | 455911 | 4464 | 126353 | 19912 |
4.3 Commercial shipbuilding in Ireland1, 1910 to 1919 | |
Year | Tonnage of Ships Built |
1910 | 165,828 |
1911 | 183,390 |
1912 | 163,481 |
1913 | 130,899 |
1914 | 256,547 |
1915 | 38,095 |
1916 | 10,900 |
1917 | 78,936 |
1918 | 182,356 |
1919 | 222,955 |
Source: Modern Irish Trade and Industry (1920), E. J. Riordan | |
1 Data in this table refers to the island of Ireland. |
4.4 Linen yarn and linen goods exported from Ireland1, 1910 to 1917 | ||||
Year | Linen yarn | Linen goods | ||
lbs | £ | Cwts | £ | |
1910 | 24,713,696 | 1,596,093 | 1,221,793 | 13,342,998 |
1911 | 24,071,768 | 1,629,859 | 1,113,296 | 12,584,884 |
1912 | 22,616,496 | 1,625,561 | 1,238,980 | 14,005,636 |
1913 | 23,427,936 | 1,732,691 | 1,163,952 | 14,112,918 |
1914 | 20,900,096 | 1,480,423 | 1,196,086 | 14,353,032 |
1915 | 17,847,424 | 1,487,285 | 1,129,108 | 14,904,226 |
1916 | 18,020,576 | 2,027,315 | 1,083,208 | 16,248,120 |
1917 | 24,014,480 | 3,001,810 | 1,048,958 | 23,916,242 |
Source: Report on the Trade in Imports and Exports at Irish Ports, His Majesty's Stationery Office, Dublin | ||||
1 Data in this table refers to the island of Ireland. |
4.5 Production and exports of beer and distillation of spirits in Ireland, 1910 to 1918 | |||||
Year | Production of beer | Exports of ale and beer | Exports of porter | ||
Barrels | Barrels | £ | Hogsheads | £ | |
1910 | : | 1,899 | 5,792 | 695,923 | 1,838,397 |
1911 | 3,215,000 | 1,636 | 5,113 | 729,298 | 1,926,562 |
1912 | : | 1,298 | 4,170 | 794,447 | 2,098,664 |
1913 | : | 1,335 | 4,339 | 859,056 | 2,269,340 |
1914 | 3,532,000 | 1,679 | 5,541 | 689,696 | 2,446,664 |
1915 | 3,412,000 | 1,997 | 7,256 | 887,591 | 2,500,048 |
1916 | 3,279,000 | 780 | 3,471 | 893,777 | 3,053,738 |
1917 | 2,850,000 | 362 | 1,818 | 508,987 | 2,527,969 |
1918 | 1,603,679 | 745 | 4,917 | 490,422 | 2,431,676 |
Source: Report on the Trade in Imports and Exports at Irish Ports, His Majesty's Stationery Office, Dublin | |||||
1 Data in this table refers to the island of Ireland. |
exports of porter (hogsheads) | |
1910 | 695923 |
1911 | 729298 |
1912 | 794447 |
1913 | 859056 |
1914 | 689696 |
1915 | 887591 |
1916 | 893777 |
1917 | 508987 |
1918 | 490422 |
4.6 Annual export and imports at ports in Ireland1 in current and constant prices, 1910 to 1916 | |||||
£ thousands | |||||
Year | Imports | Exports | Exports less imports | ||
Current prices | Constant 1904 prices | Current prices | Constant 1904 prices | Constant 1904 prices | |
1910 | 66,431 | 59,624 | 65,896 | 56,968 | -2,656 |
1911 | 67,610 | 60,322 | 65,071 | 56,330 | -3,992 |
1912 | 73,953 | 63,221 | 67,168 | 56,710 | -6,511 |
1913 | 74,467 | 62,986 | 73,877 | 60,567 | -2,419 |
1914 | 73,995 | 61,176 | 77,311 | 63,243 | 2,067 |
1915 | 87,950 | 59,790 | 84,463 | 58,372 | -1,418 |
1916 | 105,205 | 57,358 | 107,171 | 58,858 | 1,500 |
Source: Report on the Trade in Imports and Exports at Irish Ports during the year ended 31 December 1916, (1918) His Majesty's Stationery Office Dublin | |||||
1 Data in this table refers to the island of Ireland |
Photo: Downings pier, Co. Donegal
4.7 Volume growth in exports in Ireland by industry, 1904 to 1916 | ||||
1904 | 1908 | 1913 | 1916 | |
Linen | 100.0 | 97.5 | 120.0 | 114.5 |
Cattle | 100.0 | 111.8 | 148.3 | 142.9 |
Bacon | 100.0 | 129.2 | 139.1 | 150.8 |
Poultry | 100.0 | 119.3 | 118.0 | 146.5 |
Butter | 100.0 | 112.8 | 112.3 | 156.3 |
Steamers (Ships) | 100.0 | 134.6 | 134.0 | : |
Cotton Goods | 100.0 | 98.8 | 130.1 | 124.8 |
Brewing | 100.0 | 122.7 | 162.1 | 171.8 |
Whiskey | 100.0 | 93.9 | 85.8 | 45.6 |
Woolens | 100.0 | 169.6 | 234.6 | 332.2 |
Sheep | 100.0 | 101.4 | 88.6 | 87.1 |
Horses | 100.0 | 104.3 | 131.9 | 25.9 |
Pigs | 100.0 | 77.1 | 39.5 | 55.0 |
Source: Changes in Irish Exports, Journal of the Statistical and Social Enquiry Society of Ireland, February 1919, Professor C. H. Oldham | ||||
1 Data in this table refers to the island of Ireland. |
4.8 Wholesale Price Index in Ireland1, 1914 to 1918 | |
June 1914=100 | |
Time period | Wholesale Price Index |
December 1914 | 125.7 |
December 1915 | 159.4 |
December 1916 | 224.0 |
December 1917 | 266.7 |
December 1918 | 298.6 |
Source: Monthly Statistical Statement, Dept of Agricluture and Technical Instruction for Ireland, February 1920 | |
1 Data in this table refers to the island of Ireland. |
4.9 Government revenue and expenditure in Ireland1, 1911 to 1917 | |||
£ | |||
Year | Government Revenue | Government expenditure | Balance |
1911/12 | 10,688,000 | 11,533,500 | -845,500 |
1912/13 | 10,731,500 | 12,137,000 | -1,405,500 |
1913/14 | 11,134,500 | 12,357,000 | -1,222,500 |
1914/15 | 12,389,500 | 12,656,000 | -266,500 |
1915/16 | 17,929,000 | 12,597,000 | 5,332,000 |
1916/17 | 23,766,500 | 12,686,000 | 11,080,500 |
Source: The Public Finances of Ireland, Journal of the Statistical and Social Enquiry Society of Ireland, January 1920, Professor C. H. Oldham | |||
1 Data in this table refers to the island of Ireland. |
Photo: Custom House, Dublin City
Government Revenue | Government expenditure | |
1911/12 | 10688000 | 11533500 |
1912/13 | 10731500 | 12137000 |
1913/14 | 11134500 | 12357000 |
1914/15 | 12389500 | 12656000 |
1915/16 | 17929000 | 12597000 |
1916/17 | 23766500 | 12686000 |
The year 1916 for the economy of the thirty two county Ireland presents contrasting pictures from an economic standpoint. Rather than looking at the economic fortunes of families the focus in this section has been on economic activities such as the production, export and import of goods and raw materials together with trends in prices and the overall fiscal situation.
There were successful shipbuilding and textile production activities concentrated in the north of Ireland and Food and agricultural output was increasing in 1916. However the restrictions on Brewing and Distilling activities did have some adverse impact by 1916 but did not result in any structural changes in these activities.
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