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Most European countries had a centre-left (broadly socialist) party and a centre-right (broadly conservative or Christian Democrat) one, perhaps with some liberals in the middle, plus a green party and a few regional or fringe ones to add variety. Ireland did not conform to this model. The political differences between the two main parties, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael looked minor...
Society
In De Valera's time, the Catholic Church's power had been vast, and it lingered on into the 1980s. It was difficult to propose a law without winning the approval of the Catholic hierarchy. Divorce, abortion and most forms of birth control were in effect illegal. Irish society had also been deeply patriarchal...
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