Think Belfast and ship building and Harland & Wolff come to mind. They were, however, but one firm involved in this industry and this publication sets out to rectify the widely held aforementioned misconception.
The initial chapter destroys the aforementioned myth and progresses through the development of the industry, details of labour relations and the industry's golden years culminating in its decline. Interesting facts brought to light in the book include the expulsion of Catholic and non Unionist Protestants from the ship building workforce on no less than three occasions between 1886 and 1920.
The one point your reviewer would have to take the author to task over (and I will declare a self interest as a member of the profession slated), is his summarisation of the problems leading to the decline of this once great industry in the following manner: "It is sad to witness the passing of a great tradition but economics are brutal and accountants heartless - the end is nigh". I will leave the informed reader to make up their own mind.