In Europe and around the World Ireland is famous for its economic success story of becoming the Celtic Tiger, the tiger of Europe. Similarly to the Asian small “tigers” with a rapid economic development, Ireland has got one of the fastest growing economies in the world and it achieved this result in a relatively short period. But how did Ireland become a “star performer in Europe”1 from a poor and peripheral county? Joining the European Economic Community in 1973 had a great effect on the country’s success. On the other hand, this achievement was due to the new economic policy that was open towards new markets and foreign investments. In this thesis I am going to deal with the circumstances of this rapid success. I would like to find the reasons that were inevitable to this great achievement. I am going to deal with the relationship between Ireland and the European Union. I would like to examine the effects of the EU membership on this country. How did Ireland’s economic and political dependence from the UK transform into independence?