Why did immigration to Ireland increase in the late 20th century?

Immigration to Ireland increased significantly during the final two decades of the 20th century, marking a shift from the country's long history of population depletion through emigration.12

This rise in immigration was driven by several key factors:

• Economic Growth: The 1990s saw the emergence of the "Celtic Tiger" economy, a period of robust economic growth that made the country significantly wealthier and created new opportunities for residents.2
• European Integration: The more-open labour market facilitated by the European Union played a crucial role in attracting new workers to the country.2
• Globalization: The increasingly globalized nature of the Irish economy helped draw a diverse wave of new residents from across Europe, Africa, and Asia.2
• Return Migration: During the 1990s, immigration was further bolstered by a large number of Irish Americans moving back to the country.1

By the 1990s, these combined forces resulted in immigration levels that finally outpaced emigration.1