It's also worth noting that Ireland's range of domestic appliances would have been far more "European" as there was voltage difference between the UK and the rest of Europe (including Ireland) at the time.
The UK was on 240V
Ireland was on 220V
The problem was that earlier UK machines that were specifically designed for 240V +/- 10% didn't work well if a 220V supply was dipping to the lower end of its permitted range. i.e. was at 220V -10%.
Irish applances also had to conform with European requirements for being able to function safely in either polarity i.e. same as Germany and all of Northern Europe as we originally standardised on the same plug as Germany/Sweden/Norway etc and there were still plenty of houses using those "16A side-earthed" plugs and sockets in the 1960s/70s. They're increasingly rare now, but you can still very occasionally come across them in old houses.
ALL appliances since the adoption of the low voltage directive and other European harmonised standards must be able to operate safely with supply in either polarity. That also applies to appliances sold in the UK, but woudln't necessarily have in the 1960s.
It was replaced with the UK's standard plugs/sockets as it made more sense to have compatability with Northern Ireland. Also, both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland moved their supplies to 230V in the 80s (well ahead of the European requirement to do so) It meant 100% intercompatability without any problems for older appliances.
Irish house wiring remains much more like Northern European countries than the UK. e.g. we tend to wire sockets (outlets) on 16 or 20A radials rather than 32A rings and there are much heavier requirements for RCD protection. Also, we've never allowed the UK-style rewirable fuses on distribution boards (Consumer units), instead, we have always used the German standard Diazed/Neozed fuses same as most of Northern Europe.
The "schuko" plug/socket system's below :
When inserted into the socket, the Schuko plug covers the socket cavity (1) and establishes protective-earth connection through the earth clips (2) before the live and neutral pins (3) establish contact, thereby preventing users from touching connected pins. (Hence the Schuko system does not require partially insulated pins as used in the europlug and the British and Australian plugs.) A pair of non-conductive guiding notches (4) on the left and right side provides extra stability, enabling the safe use of large and heavy plugs (e.g. with built-in transformers or timers).
