Seeing as how Ireland is traditionally known for drinking (and poor use of the English language) and only in the past decade have gained a tiny bit of traction regarding an internatinal business home, they'd best be happy with what they can get: even if it is Facefuck. If something truly doesn't happen there (other than tax breaks) they are just going to degerate into the same bunch of overly loud drunkards that ruled Erin in the past.

Personally I think a Nation of Drunks is more sustainable and valuable that some temporary tax haven; some people may think differently. It's Truth Time for Globalization and Ireland is certainly a mean measurement point.

It's interesting how Ireland is doing so well out of being better governed than the UK and having a less moronic population. Now Britain is complaining when they bring in sensible policies like bank deposit guarantees because these are "anti-competitive".

...that everyone is an expert. Including me, obviously.

@Solomon Grundy: all parts of the 'British' Isles are famous for their drinking. Perhaps you mean "positively regarded".

@Rich: 'Ireland is doing so well out of being better governed than the UK...sensible policies like bank deposit guarantees'. You obviously don't live here (Ireland) then. Rearrange these words: 'door bolted horse closed after stable'.

In my experience i would tend to find that irish people speak much better english than their english counterparts... mebbe not after 10 pints though lol.

"If something truly doesn't happen there (other than tax breaks) they are just going to degerate into the same bunch of overly loud drunkards that ruled Erin in the past."

That'd be the english then...! :P

It's thanks to the old stereotype of the drunken paddy that Ireland has done so well - while the brits are laughing at us, we take their money

The town is absolutely stuffed with traffic, really really impossible to get around. And it gets so much worse at commute time. There is some help with the new road and the tram service, but only if you live and work in the right places. Otherwise expect a ridiculously long commute.

As soon as you get outside the town the roads become narrow 2 tracks with very little defined edges (no kerbs). The ever present mud is thrown up on the road edges and on the (tiny!) road signs. Everyone has a car with a filth covered rear screen.

Oh and Ikea STILL haven't got there!

P.

@ Solomon Grundy

You slate the Irish in your post claiming poor use of the English language, while you talk about Dublin being an "internatinal business home" and that they are "going to degerate into the same bunch of overly loud drunkards". May I suggest you perfect your own grasp of the English language before slating an entire nation on theirs.

Watchu sayin' Grundy geez' you don't know nuffink 'bout nuffink, you fink them Brits speak better English than them Paddies, and all they wanna do is go down the Rub-a-dub-dub for pint's a Stella and a Ruby Murray up the apple 'n' pears wiff their plates of meat? Uh, I've gone off point there sorry, but I think it's well known that the Brits cant handle their alco-pops:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/24/world/europe/24crete.html?scp=1&sq=british%20drinking%20greece&st=cse

Sure, they come for the tax breaks, but they stay for the craic.

Although it's the British Bankers Association that's complained to the Irish government it's about a possible breach of an EU rule on state aid. The Commission may well get in on the act after the meeting tomorrow.

We'll see how sensible a policy it is if it ever gets used. I wonder where the money will come from, oh I see, the tax payers. Not so different to Northern Wreck after all.

As for the Irish being better governed, I think you need to bone up on a certain Charles Haughey and a certain Bertie. It's a little too early to tell with Cowan. It might please Mr Grundy to learn that Cowan used to work in a pub.

I note that the majority of comments so far have been about the Irish/Dubliners ability to drink. Which does not assist or improve the comprehension of others who may be considering moving to these parts.

My comment left some time ago today about traffic in Dublin seems to been ignored by the Reg. Why?

P.

No IKEA?

In my books, a good thing. The shopping experience is like being cattle herded through an abattoir.

As a tenious link to this story the band I'm not about to mention are on FaceBook.

Anyway some mates of mine were invited to play with their band at a festival in Eire last month & they were treated like royalty (but obviously not Lord Mountbatton) they found the people really nice and welcoming but great time they did not have (he says Yoda like). the people at the festival, they said were scared shitless of the Garda (Police) & couldn't relax & have a good time & the Pub they visited when the Police turned up the places fell silent, the place closed & everyone filed out in a line like they were convicts. Non of this happy Irish banter, lock-ins & relaxed atmosphere their tourist office tries to lay on.

Give me good old Blighty anyday if it's like that, where you can say what you think to a copper as long as you can run faster than him.

It's not Eire it's Ireland and I don't know what kind of sad sacks your band were hanging round with but they sound like they're from Cork which is where we keep the shitheads.