Industrial Ireland under free trade

Abstract

When Ireland, by a determined effort, obtained "FREE TRADE" in 1779, this term meant far more than freedom from- tariff duties, which is the meaning it has today. What the British Acts (20 Geo. III., c. 6, 10, 18) then passed did was to grant to Ireland freedom-to-trade where her trade had long been prohibited, provided the Irish Parliament imposed duties at Irish ports equal to those paid in this trade in British ports.