The Irish flag, our tricolour, our greatest national symbol, used to identify us across the globe and who knows, maybe beyond. We can all identify it at a glance. To strangers it’s a symbol of friendliness, the Irish humour, St Patrick’s Day and neutrality. Yet, so many of us still don’t actually know that much …
We find ourselves yet again at the annual cusp, the last breaths of 2010 will soon be drawn and the dawn of 2011 will break. As is customary at such times, one is invited (perhaps compelled) to reflect on what the year has taught us or at the very least, what is has presented to …
So, #budget11 has been released from its cage and set free amongst the unsuspecting public. Terror hit the streets of Dublin as news of this cash gobbling monster spread. People flocked to ATMs in an attempt to claw back any money they could from the bricks and motar that retained their savings. Bank of Ireland …
We stand in the eve of what is predicted to be the worst (most austere) budget in Irish history. Based on information leaked so far, the prediction for an average single income household, earning about €35,000 per annum will see a reduction of roughly €600 per annum in take home pay (for single people on …
With all the doom and gloom about, this post isn’t about handing over funds to the ECB, IMF or any other such organisation. Instead its a happy story of my recent cheque handover to the Irish Heart Foundation. A handover of all the money, very generously donated by you kind folks out there in internet …
Yesterday I overheard a conversation while trying to shake off some stress at the gym. This conversation captured perfectly why this country is in such a mess. It started with a moan about how everyone has lied to us and then how it was time for them to be ousted from power. It culminated in …
Those of you who know me will know that I like to raise a bit of cash now and then for different charities and may well recall that I decided to torture myself with a marathon a few years back, in aid of the local hospice facility. Well, I’ve decided to do the same again …
“Question my attitude? I’ll show you f**kin’ attitude!” I was very fortunate to grow up in Ireland’s oldest city, Waterford, while even at times of recession and underdeveloped localities, kids had the resource of culture, a sense of pride in what was theirs, and a healthy respect for right and wrong. Now I’m not saying …
A clever and appropriate nomenclature coined by John Murray Brown of FT.com to summarise Ireland at the moment. Our Emerald Isle is looking more like a junk shop, jade dragon – cheap, useless, outdated, and fragile. On one hand our country is fighting the evil of wreckless developers and their associated debts while on the …
Last October the Irish people went to the polling booth to have their say on the Lisbon Treaty – the result was a definite NO. The path is now being paved for a second vote on the treaty; So, what’s changed? Before the first Lisbon vote, many people had a great number of concerns about …