Ireland was traditionally one of Western Europe's poorest countries, a rural and intensely Catholic country from which the best and brightest left in search of opportunity elsewhere. Recessions were a routine occurrence, and high unemployment was endemic through much of the 20th century. Ireland may have thought those days were past, but the implosion of the country's recent economic miracle has kindled memories of less fortunate times. With a government in crisis, the Irish are taking to the streets and asking, "How did we get here?" In Dublin, on Nov. 22, a protester berates the current prime minister for condemning Ireland's future generations to poverty.
PETER MUHLY/AFP/Getty Images
(4)
HIDE COMMENTS LOGIN OR REGISTER REPORT ABUSE
TOM G
7:37 PM ET
November 26, 2010
to clear up a few things
ok looking at your photo essay , I feel as an Irishman I need to clear up a few things.Dell was paid 40 million euros to move to Poland that plant didn't fail, the picture in which you have the protesters their number reached around 300 hundred people who might I add are part of organizations which are on the fringes of Irish politics , only a twice did that number reach thousands and it was over relatively trivial proposals that were never even passed.FAS is an organization which wasted its budget during our boom, the Guinness gravity bar isn't a posh establishment.
we have been through worse before however, when we do recover these lessons that have been learned won't be repeated
ANBUDMOR
8:04 PM ET
November 26, 2010
Why would you not expect such
Why would you not expect such thing not to be repeated. The Irish have put Fianna Fail back in power after they destroyed the economy in the mid-70's. Because of their disastrous and irresponsible rule in the 70's the deficit went from about 3 billion pounds to about 26 billion over a period of about 5-years.
More recently corruption by mostly Fianna Fail politicians has been made public, but they are still voted for.
Even with a dark shadow being cast on former taoiseach (prime minister) Bertie Ahern, up to last year there was still talk of him being elected president.
While Fianna Fail poll numbers are running in the teens; I have absolutely no doubt that they will end up with 30-40% of the seats in the house.
ANBUDMOR
7:54 PM ET
November 26, 2010
Future rulers
The presumed winners of the next election are not "the conservative opposition". It is expected to be a coalition of a centrist party and a left wing party.
The current government is comprised of a right wing to centrist party (Fianna Fail), The Green Party, and a conservative party (The Progressive Democrats).
MALICEIT
8:27 PM ET
November 27, 2010
US...
...is next ?