DUBLIN—Ireland officially exited recession Wednesday, on export-driven gross domestic product growth of 2.7% during the first quarter, but some observers remained critical of the level of hardship shouldered by taxpayers.

Ireland was the first country in the euro zone to announce that it slid into recession in 2008, and was one of the worst-performing economies in the currency bloc last year, with GDP contracting 7.1%. GDP declined more than 14% in the two years to the end of 2009.

Exports...