In 1959, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) was formed through the merger of the Irish Trades Union Congress and the Congress of Irish Unions. The ICTU became the main trade union body in Ireland, representing workers in both the Republic and Northern Ireland. The ICTU played a significant role in Irish social and economic policy, advocating for workers' rights and social justice.

The formation of the ICTU is a subject of social poetry, with writers exploring the role of trade unions in Irish society. The ICTU's commitment to workers' rights is often contrasted with the poverty of the past, creating a sense of progress. The poetry of the period reflects the growing importance of the labour movement, a theme that would persist in the literature of the 20th century.