Irish experiences since joining the EEC/EU (1973) have been closely linked to globalisations and changing core-periphery relationships. Transitions in economic patterns in time-space contexts became especially evident in the 1990s, but what is interesting is that Ireland did not follow classic development paths associated with Western economies. With EU membership, Foreign Direct Investment must be seen in context and scale. For insights into this, the strategic areas of manufacturing, agriculture and tourism are examined. Like tourism with incoming and outgoing visitors, globalisation is a two-way process with imports, exports, and inwards and outwards investment. Analysis of Ireland and globalisation would be incomplete without reference to Northern Ireland, which is too often the case.