Then There Are the Poor Feckers at MSNBC...

I realize that the United States is big.  As an American, I understand why many there believe that the world begins on the West Coast of the North American continent and ends somewhere East of New York. I can also get my head around why many folks from the United States would not be fully up-to-date regarding the goings-on in a wee little country like Ireland. So often, when I meet Americans here, I'll give them loads of room to make mistakes. For instance, many think that Ireland is still part of the United Kingdom. It's not their fault. They can't help it.

But then there's MSNBC. And they should know better.

A few days ago, the head of an Irish organization called the IDA (Industrial Development Authority) was invited onto MSNBC's 'Squawk Box' business program to be interviewed by journalist and former stockbroker Joe Kernan. MSNBC journalists are usually intelligent and savvy. They usually get things right. But in the interview with IDA CEO Martin Shanahan regarding Ireland's economy, poor Martin never stood a chance. Why? Simply because the comments made by Kernan were so...so...stupid. Ignorant. And lacking even a rudimentary understanding of Ireland's (and Europe's) economy.

        For instance, Kernan asked, "You have pounds (sterling) anyway, don't you - still?" And the rest of the interview descends  into mayhem, as follows:

Martin: "We have euros."

Kernan (shocked): "You have euros in Ireland? Why do you have euros in Ireland?"

        (Answer: because, Joe, we're part of Europe)

But the interview got worse.

Kernan: "What about Scotland? I was using,....ah... (confusion reigns as he forgets what currency the Scots use and Martin has to remind him). 

Martin: "Scottish Pounds. They use sterling."

Kernan (aghast): "They use sterling?" (duh...)

Martin: "They use sterling. We use euros." 

Kernan: "Why would they want to do that?"

(Answer: because, you idiot, they're part of the United Kingdom)

And a little later...

Martin: "In the north of Ireland (Northern Ireland) they use Sterling but we use euros." 

Kernan: "THEY DO? It's just too confusing."

Okay, that was only part of the interview but it gives you an idea. In response, I thought I'd pen an open letter from this American who's lived in Ireland for so long to Joe and MSNBC. Tongue in cheek of course...

To: Joe Kernan and all at MSNBC
From: Tom Richards, your erstwhile American living in Ireland
Date: 10 November 2014
Reference: How can you be so stupid?

Dear MSNBC, Mr Joe Kernan and all on Squawk Box,

I know you live in America. That's a big place that uses the dollar. But not everyone in the world uses the dollar. For instance, in much of Europe, we use the euro. The euro is a currency, somewhat like the dollar, but the notes come in really great colors other than green. Unlike the dollar, you can use the euro in 18 different European countries. Did you know that? And Ireland uses the euro too. We don't use Irish pounds anymore. We don't use pounds sterling like the English, the Scots, and the people in Northern Ireland. Those three countries use pounds sterling because...ah...well, they're all part of the United Kingdom and all of 'em use the same currency. Oh! And just so you know, Wales uses the pound sterling too. Wales is that little country to the West of England. The people there speak Welsh. Just thought that little nugget might help if ever you interview a Welsh person.

Anyway, back to Ireland. Yes, we use the euro here. We have since the 1st of January 1999. We decided to do that because we're part of Europe. No, Ireland isn't part of the United Kingdom so we don't use pounds sterling. We've been independent for a long long time and don't like that currency. Besides, the euro is much more convenient. We can all climb on the airplane without going to the bank to change currency. Instead, we get off in Italy or Greece or France and buy drink to our heart's content. All of those countries use the euro too. But I don't think that drink was the main reason why Ireland chose the euro. Or maybe it was.

I want to say that I really like your Squawk Box program. It's a business program, right? But if that's correct, I would hope that maybe in the future you could do a little research. Get things a bit right so that you don't embarrass your guests, like Martin from the IDA, who must have been gobsmacked at your ignorance and must have felt just awful as you continued to dig a hole and made it bigger and bigger and bigger in front of so many millions of folks. That's called 'being humiliated'. And if you weren't, then even now you don't know your euro from your dollar.

Ah, but I feel sorry for ya, ya poor feckers. To make it easier for ya in future, just in case you interview another Irish person, I'll ask the government if they'll drop the euro and replace it with the US dollar. That should make things much simpler.

Maybe. But methinks that I shouldn't count on it.

Your sincerely - Tom

(To see the complete interview go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0IiVyFM4yo. To see the silliness, fast forward to the end of it and have a laugh courtesy of Joe).

A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland 2014 Kindle Edition Available Now

Want to learn more about living in Ireland? Are you thinking of traveling to Ireland or moving to Ireland? If so, you might consider the purchase of the 2014 Kindle ebook edition of A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland. Now 80,000+ words long, and having sold over 10,000 copies in its various editions, it could make the perfect gift for those interested in this wonderful country. Simply click on any of the links above to purchase this new Kindle version. You can also download various free aps to read this Kindle version on any PC or Mac. 

Water, Water Everywhere. And All of it is being Taxed.

Then there was the time I took a trip to Killarney. Somehow or other I ended up with  a group of American tourists all intent on enjoying a day's outing. The only problem? It was lashing rain. As we took refuge in a local cafe, the voice of an annoyed woman from New Jersey took aim at our poor tour guide who was intent on keeping everyone happy.

Her: "It's raining. Again."
Tour Guide: "It does that in Ireland."
Her: "But it's like a hurricane outside."
Tour Guide: "It does that in Ireland too."
Her: "But we'll get wet!"
Tour Guide (now more than a little exasperated): "Do ya see the green of the fields? Do ya like it that way? Well God does too and that's why it's gonna keep raining."

It rains in Ireland. A lot. It drizzles, pelts, and lashes. It's so ubiquitous, this liquid wonder that pours onto the country, that most of us take it for granted. The Irish may be short of many things, but water? We've that in spades. And for years and years we got it for free - sort of. Turn on the tap and out the water poured and no one thought anything of it.

Until recently. This past month, thousands and thousands of households throughout the country received a wee letter in the post making it official: we'll all be paying for water from now on. Come next January, we'll all get a bill in the mail for the amount of water we use.

But the Irish aren't taking this lightly. Thousands of 'em are protesting in the streets leveling accusing fingers at our politicians.

But what's the big deal? The citizens of many other countries pay for water. Why should the Irish be any different? Someone has to pay for it, don't they?

To understand Ireland's attitude to water charges, you have to realize that most people here have just about had it with so-called Austerity measures. Prior to the Great Recession of 2008, Irish citizens had already been taxed to death. But new taxes on income, property, and consumer goods  have come close to pushing many households over the financial edge.  Many are having trouble paying for simple things: like heat in the winter. And petrol for cars. And school uniforms for children. Most are already saving for the new property tax which they will be forced to pay after Christmas. And now the government wants all of us to pay again. In January of course. Right after Christmas. When everyone is broke.

The Irish are usually an uncomplaining lot. In fact, that aspect of their character can often drive me crazy. But this time, for many, paying water charges isn't a matter of inconvenience. Rather, it's a choice: do they put bread on the table or pay the new water bill?

If you're visiting Ireland over the next few years and see entire populations make their way toward the local town water pump, bucket in hand, you'll know that they've opted to eat.

The new tax on water is simply a tax too far and one that many simply cannot afford.

A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland 2014 Kindle Edition Available Now

Want to learn more about living in Ireland? Are you thinking of traveling to Ireland or moving to Ireland? If so, you might consider the purchase of the 2014 Kindle ebook edition of A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland. Now 80,000+ words long, and having sold over 10,000 copies in its various editions, it could make the perfect gift for those interested in this wonderful country. Simply click on any of the links above to purchase this new Kindle version. You can also download various free aps to read this Kindle version on any PC or Mac. 

Fred Schimmelman, a Wonderful Man of Song

Forgive me but I'm learning: as one gets older, so too does everyone else. And when that happens, we all eventually reach the end of our mortal coils. Recently, a friend - a teacher - passed away. For a moment, I'd like to remember him.

To Fred Schimmelman, Teacher and Friend:

He's gone. Those sensitive fingers that directed our song. Those smoky eyes that could glisten with amusement or fire into annoyance in the brief space of a quarter note. He's gone. His passion that fueled our own, the young kids that we were at Rolling Meadows High School. Teaching us to harmonize as we could. Presenting us with curiosities. "What's a Jabberwocky?" we asked and then found out in four / four time. "Twas Brillig" for sure.

He's gone. The director, the musician, the teacher, the man. His music dispersed into so many young hearts.... but then perhaps?...

...Gone he is not. For his love of music remains within many of us. Like the last I heard from him, only a few weeks ago. The 'old man' still young at heart, writing: "... glad you're still singing. It's a boon to living." And so it is.

Gone therefore he really isn't. The memories that he made, the kids that he taught, the inspiration and confidence that he gave to us all. He was a gift, and gifts don't die. They Live! Nor do the notes of his song that float even now Heavenward.

Godspeed, Fred Schimmelman. And thank you for the gifts that you gave so freely of yourself.

In honor of Fred, a song that he taught us all in 1973. Sung, of course, not by us. But it's the memory, the memory...

The Lord to Me a Shepherd Is sung by Vox Harmonia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgQdUDBNkOs

(Photo: Fred in full flight, circa 1973, Choir Room, Rolling Meadows High School.)

Ireland's Economy Rockets Skyward. Celtic Tiger 2.0 Rises from the Ashes. But is it Sustainable?

We have ignition and lift off. According to recent economic statistics, Ireland's economy is surging with growth not seen since the demise of the Celtic Tiger in 2008. According to the Irish Times, Ireland's economy is growing at the fastest rate in seven years, recording a 7.7 percent explosion in the year ending June 2014. Moreover, Ireland's politicians gazed into their (ever cloudy and broken) crystal ball and upped the growth forecast for the rest of the year. And of course, those same politicians took delight in waxing lyrical about the stringent measures that they believe scored the big results.

According to various sources, Ireland' phoenix-like reincarnation has been sparked by a number of factors: employment and consumer spending is up (how 'up' is, however, uncertain). Exports are burgeoning. Local industries including tech, pharmaceuticals, tourism, health - and wait for it - the construction sectors are hiring. In many cases, they can't get enough qualified people to fill job vacancies because everyone emigrated.

Which of course means - if you believe the press and government - that unemployment should soon be falling like a brick. And if you're interested in coming to Ireland to job hunt, now is the time.

Growth of 7.7 per year is phenomenal by any measure. Other Eurozone economies (think Germany, France, Spain, and the rest of the PIGS) drool at such a display. But is Ireland's rebound a long-term reality or a flash in the pan?

The people of this country have taken a beating. The average industrial worker making just over 30,000 euro a year has an effective marginal tax rate of - wait for it - 52 percent due to tax increases that only went one way - up, up, up. This does not include so-called 'stealth' or invisible taxes. Taxes like VAT (now at 23 percent), or VRT on automobiles. Or the new property tax. Or the about to be introduced new water charges. Folks across the country - particularly the lower and middle economic classes  - have seen take home pay fall (if they still had a job, of course) while public services have also crashed. In 2007 and 2008, they watched helplessly from the side as the government mortgaged everyone's future to underwrite failing banks and a failing economy. The debt burden in this country is phenomenal: it now stands at over 181 billion euro (go to the debt clock for more. Ireland's debt mountain is continuing to spiral upward). That's over 100 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product. That's a hell of a lot of money to pay back.

That burden will be there for generations to come. And it will slow Ireland's recovery. At the same time, the country is in danger of overheating yet again. Already, house prices in Dublin are soaring out of control, and are now almost level with Bubble prices last seen in 2008.  Inflation is starting to once again inch up. Workers are (rightly) demanding less taxes, more pay raises, and increased public services to replace what was lost during the dreadful Crash.

Is this sustainable, this re-emergence of the Irish economy? I like to think so. But we'll carry the pain for years to come. I'll pay for it, my kids will pay for it, and my grand kids will keep on paying for it.

But let's ignore the future for a moment. Ireland has been in the depths of economic chaos and darkness for the past six years. At last, there seems to be a golden lining. Let's glory in that for the present.

A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland 2014 Kindle Edition Available Now

Want to learn more about living in Ireland? Are you thinking of traveling to Ireland or moving to Ireland? If so, you might consider the purchase of the 2014 Kindle ebook edition of A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland. Now 80,000+ words long, and having sold over 10,000 copies in its various editions, it could make the perfect gift for those interested in this wonderful country. Simply click on any of the links above to purchase this new Kindle version. You can also download various free aps to read this Kindle version on any PC or Mac. 

Its' Midsummer in Ireland. Must be Time for Madness.

Mid-summer in Ireland is not quite like anywhere else. We all relax for one thing (which is why you haven't heard from me in a bit). We all go to the pub more often (which is also why you haven't heard from me recently). We kick back, take a load off, light the BBQ, and pretend the rest of the world doesn't exist. Or, if we have enough dosh in the bank, we'll flee the country for other parts of the world and teach them how to kick back (unless we go to Spain in which case the locals have a much better understanding of Manana than we ever will).

It gets quiet over here. Really, really quiet. Enough to make a guy want to go bonkers. Enough to put some up to mischief.  You know, to shake off the boredom - that sort of thing. Which is what happens in Ireland during the summer. Many of us go stark raving mad. Unfortunately, there are those out there - completely innocent souls - who suffer the consequences of that madness.

Take Garth Brooks for instance. You know. The American country western singer. Years ago he gave a concert in Dublin. He was so welcomed by the Irish that he thought he'd died and gone to Heaven. I heard tell that he said back then that he'd be back someday. But then he decided to take a few years off to spend all the money he'd made in Dublin and we didn't hear much from him. Until a few months ago.

It seems that Garth decided to kick-start his music career after the decade-long interlude. And where better to start it than in Dublin? His people contacted the Aikens, a mover and shaker in the Irish music business, about organizing a few concerts here to launch a worldwide tour. Aiken, in turn, thought about contacting the Dublin City Council to organize the licenses for the events. Unfortunately he must have forgotten because...

And here is where a) it gets somewhat confusing and b) all hell broke lose.

Garth, Aiken et al wanted to hold the concerts in Croke Park, a massive stadium at which is played Ireland's favorite sport, Gaelic Football. In turn, Croke Park is owned by the GAA, the body that manages the sport. Croke Park happens to be located in a rather densely populated area of North Dublin. It's surrounded by residential houses. Which means that it has residents in them. You know, people like you and me that like to sleep occasionally. The stadium was sometimes used for concerts and some time ago the residents had complained: it seems that they didn't like music blaring through open windows at 3 in the morning nor finding post-concert detritus like vomit clogging up the gutters. So...sometime ago they had negotiated a deal with the GAA. They'd put up with the concerts but only if the GAA guaranteed that they'd hold only three concerts a year.

But the Garth Brooks steamroller was already fired up. Instead of first contacting the Council for the licenses, Aiken went instead directly to the owners of the stadium. On behalf of the Brooks machine, Aiken asked the GAA if they'd hold three concerts. They said yes. Then they asked for four. Yes again. Then, with their enthusiasm knowing no bounds, they asked for five. Again the answer was yes. The GAA, I'm sure, forgot entirely about the agreement they had with the residents. I'm not sure why. Money probably had something to do with it. (I can hear you say as you read this: "Really Tom? Money? Are people honestly that greedy? Duh....") But Aiken, as mentioned, had not yet approached the Dublin City Council for the licenses.

Instead, they started selling tickets. Subject to licensing approval, of course. And over 400,000 were snapped up. Dubliners bought 'em. People across Ireland bought 'em. People from as far away as Australia bought 'em. They also made flight and hotel reservations. Dublin businesses got caught up in the madness, now scheduled for late July. Five concerts? 400,000 people and perhaps more! Wow! Businesses bought all sorts of stuff in anticipation: Garth Brooks cowboy hats. Garth Brooks T-Shirts. For all I know, they bought Garth Brooks mechanical wind-up figurines that would sing and ask for the Pope's blessing at the same time. All of this stuff was delivered and stored in warehouses.They weren't the only ones to go mad with anticipation: taxi drivers, restaurants, local prostitutes - everyone was rubbing their hands in anticipation of a quick buck.

But the local residents weren't too happy. Not at all. By running five concerts, the Brooks machine was breaching the agreement made with the GAA. So they started to protest. They got airtime on TV, radio, and the Net. And those with any sense of justice realized that they had a point. A legal agreement is, after all, a legal agreement. And that's when Aiken finally approached the Dublin City Council for licensing approval.

And the result: chaos. The poor Council guy responsible for licensing realized that his hands were tied. He analysed and gnashed his teeth and prayed hard - and finally gave approval for three concerts. Not five. But three.

The shit hit the fan. Garth and company were not pleased. It was five or none at all. And the world went mad. Even our beloved Prime Minister, our Taoiseach, said it was madness. Radio call ins were filled for days with angry people expressing their views: all concerts should go ahead, said some, because the tickets had already been sold and if the concerts were cancelled the Irish economy would lose up to €50 million. That's a lot of Pints, let me tell you. Others said that the local residents were being steamrolled by big money interests. "Naw, really?" says I. The local residents, in turn, were sorry for the mess but that was the agreement. But at least they wouldn't have to clean up the puke with a mop and lots of cursing.

Brooks and Company, I think, felt that the Council would back down. He even said he would crawl on hands and knees to the Irish government to get the decision overturned, so deeply was he committed to Ireland. The mess even made it into the chambers of our beloved Irish Dail, the seat of government here. They debated it. Something had to be done. But what?

As it turned out, it was time for compromise. The decision stood unless another, sort of acceptable, agreement was made. The hot potato landed back in the Brooks camp: either take three concerts and be satisfied or... Well, we're sorry but that's an end to it. Garth tried to compromise. They worked with the Council who gave them a couple of what I believe to have been perfectly acceptable options: like having five concerts but holding a couple of them in the afternoon rather than all at night which would have driven the local folks crazy. But that wasn't good enough for Garth. The result is...

He's not coming. The tickets have been refunded. The hats and T-Shirts and wind-up figurines left in storage because the original manufacturers won't give a refund. The taxi drivers, restaurateurs, and ladies of the night deeply disappointed. Instead, Irish folks are making due with a variety of Garth Brooks look-a-likes who are making a pot load of money on all the free advertising. And conspiracy theories are running wild.

Who shot Garth Brooks in the back? The Council? The Locals? Aiken? The Taoiseach? I for one think it was all about summer madness. We go mad over here during the summer when we've not much to do. Garth Brooks was a perfect target, he and that big hat of his.

But it's not over yet. More madness is bound to continue as lawsuits fly. We'll hear about it, I suspect, until well after Christmas and beyond. Long enough to keep those who enjoy being mad happy. It's enough to make a curmudgeon like me smile.

A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland 2014 Kindle Edition Available Now

Want to learn more about living in Ireland? Are you thinking of traveling to Ireland or moving to Ireland? If so, you might consider the purchase of the 2014 Kindle ebook edition of A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland. Now 80,000+ words long, and having sold over 10,000 copies in its various editions, it could make the perfect gift for those interested in this wonderful country. Simply click on any of the links above to purchase this new Kindle version. You can also download various free aps to read this Kindle version on any PC or Mac. 

Mid-Summer in Beara

The sun shines down on this isolated part of Ireland. A huge contrast to the gales and winds of up to 160 KPH that we huddled against only months earlier. Summer sun is never guaranteed in Ireland. In my 32 years in this country, I can count the good Summers on one hand. Often it rains and blows with temperatures reaching only into the mid-50s, and we grouse and shake our fists at the heavens and wish we had the resources to fund a quick trip to the Med to bask under bluer skies.

But then there are other years. Like this one. We count our blessings because last year was glorious too and the odds of two Sunny Summers occurring back-to-back are as improbable as the United States winning the World Cup. It is during Summers like this that the residents of Beara stretch and smile and bask in the glow of health to be found here.

At Mid-Summer the Peninsula has come alive. Strawberries grow in the raised planters in my back yard, blushing red in the summer heat. Swallows perform impossible aerobatics through the exposed rafters of the tumbledown house just down the small borralion that leads from my home to the lumpy overgrown pastureland below. They compete with seagulls that soar effortlessly overhead on the gentle onshore breeze that caresses my cheek.

The fields and hills are full of wild flowers. Fuchias, as red as blood, hang like Christmas ornaments among hedgerows, growing within the wild thickets of blackberries. Soldiers stand tall, their swelling buds making ready to burst forth with spiky orange blossoms that will line wild lane ways as Autumn approaches. Wild roses spatter hidden corners of deep green fields with palates of purple, coral, and innocent pink.

Beyond in the Bay half-deckers motor out from Ballycrovan Harbour through glassy waters intent on white fish catches that will be found a few miles out into the Atlantic. The pulsing throb of their engines echo as far as the house, mixed with the gentle wash of the tide as waters play over the rocky shoreline.

Eyeries Island, only  a few yards from shore, acts as my tidal monitor. From my dining room, I can gauge the waters and know when the Moon has done its job and pushed the Atlantic to High Tide. It is much less expensive than a Tide Table and far more accurate. My eye will catch the silhouettes of walkers moving like living ghosts along the Beara Way and I get a kick out of knowing the joy that they are experiencing as they push along the coastline and through the Summer Sun.

It's Mid-Summer but the village is still quiet. A few freshly polished cars nose along main street obviously lost and I wonder if the tourists within might stop or might not and I always ponder where they are from and where they might be going and what they'll think of Eyeries when they get home and of the memories that they will have.

Occasionally, I'll get my act together and ignore the laptop for once; packing a few things together I'll head for the Strand. At low tide I'll walk along the rocky beach searching for perfectly formed scallop shells while keeping an eye peeled for the seals that sometimes come in after the mackerel. If high tide, I'll take a swim. At High Summer the waters are usually warm enough but if not I'll pull on a wet suit and face mask and snorkel through the clear lapping waters looking for pollack and mackerel and the small jellyfish that look like saucers, their opaque forms decorated with thin plum lines, pulsing gently through the sunlit sea. The ocean sluices through the rocks that jut like small islands and I'll get a hankering to swim farther out and into the rich life that the sea harbors.

Now and then a friend of mine will knock on the door. We climb into his truck and run down the narrow road to the Harbor and board his rib. He cranks up the ninety horsepower engine and speeds out the inlet into the Bay proper and across it to the snag just off the Peninsula and within spitting distance of Urhan village. We try our luck with hand lines, a simple rig of twine tied with ten or more hooks and a sinker at the end. We toss them in without bait, the glittering silver of the hooks enough for the job. Last time, we filled the boat with enough fish for a few weeks eating. If ever I ran short of cash I know that I won't starve. All I need is a small punt and a hand line and I'd be in business.

I'll sit on the back deck then and maybe have a beer and light the Barbecue, cooking up the mackerel from the trip or a small fillet perhaps and serving it with the lettuce that I grow from seed. And I'll sit there listening to classical music from the radio, the shed door open so I can hear it, and wait for the sun to go down. It's Mid-Summer and so far north the sun doesn't set until almost ten o'clock. And I'll have another beer and watch as the summer clouds are turned red and gold, Scarrif Island spotlit like an old wild thespian, and the Kerry Mountains at last back lit as the sun sinks behind them. I'll not wait until the stars come out because I'd have a very long wait at this time of year; twilight lasts until after midnight, and I've risen at three in the morning to see the foreshadowing of dawn flicker in the northern skies.

Summer in Beara fills my senses with a gentleness that I've not found anywhere else.

A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland 2014 Kindle Edition Available Now

Want to learn more about living in Ireland? Are you thinking of traveling to Ireland or moving to Ireland? If so, you might consider the purchase of the 2014 Kindle ebook edition of A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland. Now 80,000+ words long, and having sold over 10,000 copies in its various editions, it could make the perfect gift for those interested in this wonderful country. Simply click on any of the links above to purchase this new Kindle version. You can also download various free aps to read this Kindle version on any PC or Mac. 

Unemployment Drops to 12 Percent. But Backlash Against Government in Local Elections Exposes Resentment

Newsflash, Eyeries, County Cork. It's official, folks. Today Ireland's Central Statistics Office announced that the unemployment rate has fallen to 12 percent. That's the best showing in years. What this means, of course, is that more than 100,000 people are at work today than had been at the bottom of the Great Recession. More jobs are driving increased consumer spending and government tax takes. More jobs are helping people - both locals and immigrants - to crawl out of their desperate financial straights and get on with living. More jobs are giving people hope.

Right? Well maybe not. Not if you take the results of this past weekend's local elections into account. Last Friday, the Irish people voted on a county by county basis to choose over 900 local representatives as well as 11 MEPs, Ireland's European Union legislators. The results were shocking, at least to the sitting government.

Candidates from parties that currently form the existing coalition government - Fine Gael and Labour - were given a roasting at the local polls. For the first time in Ireland's history, Sinn Fein - Ireland's left-leaning political party- gained almost 20 percent of the popular vote. Political Independents have also done exceedingly well.

The local elections, occurring almost mid-term in the life of the present Government, gave Irish people the opportunity to grade the Government on its performance to date. That grade? An F. For Failure.

We're Mad as Hell and We Won't Take it Anymore

Why has Ireland's current government been giving such a poor mark? This government has, after all, managed to turn the country around. The economy is also in the middle of a U-Turn that can only be welcomed by everyone - both employed and unemployed.  Ireland is officially out of bankruptcy and we've managed to get rid of the European Troika who made our lives a misery for the past six years.  And while Ireland Inc continues to increase its indebtedness, the rate of that increase is falling drastically. Soon, it is hoped, Ireland will begin the grueling task of chipping away at the Mount Everest of debt that we've incurred since 2008.

But the turn-around has come at a price. The people of Ireland have paid for it - every bloody red cent - and will continue to pay for generations to come. We pay in record tax increases that the Government has inflicted on its population. We pay for it in significant salary cuts experienced by anyone who happens to be an employee of the Government. If you're a cop, a fireman, a teacher, a civil servant, a doctor, or a nurse, you've seen your income drop by almost 20 percent one way or another.

We pay for it if we are fortunate to have a private pension fund. The government takes a slice of any cash that we've saved - both principle and interest - and will do so for years to come. We pay whenever we buy something because the standard rate of VAT (Value Added Tax) which had been 21 percent before the recession now stands at 23 percent. We pay in new property taxes and new water charges and a new Universal Social Charge which adds a couple of percentage points to the already outlandish tax on salaries.

The Irish also pay with a significant drop in social services. If you're poor, don't automatically expect to receive a medical card. Or housing. Or enough social assistance to keep you from starving. Recently, I heard of a young woman - a friend of my daughter's - a single Mum, broke, down on her luck. For a long time she suffered in silence. Then, at her wit's end and not knowing what else to do, she approached her friends for help. It turns out that this young woman was going to bed hungry every night. That shouldn't happen. Not in 21st Century Ireland.

If you're an American reading this, you might not appreciate the horror that Ireland is experiencing. But America is not a social welfare state. Ireland is, and we pay mightily for the privilege. Middle income people pay over 52% of their income in taxes. But we expect a few things in return.

Young single mothers not going to bed hungry, for example.

Yet it's happening in Ireland. Despite what we pay and will continue to pay for years and years to come.

Ireland's unemployment rate is way, way down.  A wonderful thing. But Ireland's ability to protect those least able to help themselves is being compromised. Which is why the Irish gave the sitting Government a kick in the Goolies this past election.

We're angry, dammit. And unless the existing Government sorts things out, we'll find someone else who will.

'The Donald' Invests in Ireland. Huzzah!

The Donald stepped off the plane at Shannon Airport yesterday to tell the international investment community about his latest, always triumphant, purchase: this time a world-class golf course.

It is reported that Trump purchased Doonbeg Golf Club, an 18-hole links including a five-star hotel, spa, and 400 acres of prime land located in County Clare, for a song and mere pocket change at €15 million. This is a fraction of its value at the top of the Celtic Tiger, but the Club suffered the usual indignities of Irish recession and had recently been put into receivership. Undoubtedly, more than a few Irish people who had bet on the Club's success when it was established in 2002 are shaking their heads at billionaire Trump's usual timing.

While your intrepid reporter was not present at Trump's triumphant announcement it can only be assumed that the coming of The Donald to Ireland signifies a turn-around in Irish economic fortunes. Or maybe not. What was notable was that the Government found the mogul's presence so critical that Minister for Finance Michael Noonan took time off to meet Trump at the airport. We're not sure who was running Ireland's economy during Noonan's absence for this state occasion but it was decidedly not Noonan.

Trump said that hundreds of jobs will be created through his Irish investment. As reported in The Irish Times, Trump states, "This is one of those that is going to be truly iconic (writer's note: Or did he mean 'ironic'?). This is going to be one that Ireland is going to be extremely proud of."

While The Donald's timely investment will undoubtedly save the jobs of the previously doomed golf club, we worry that Trump - having savored a first taste of Irish bonhomie - will want much, much more for his largess and our government will quickly cave in. Reported to be worth over US$3.5 billion, Trump could:

• Buy up approximately 1/10th of all Bank Debt
• Open a new Irish Bank
• Purchase Aer Lingus and have plenty of change to spare
• Create a new Trump Palace in Limerick which Noonan, who also represents the area in government, would undoubtedly appreciate
• Buy Irish citizenship and avail of the €40,000 tax free artists exemption when publishing his next book
• Run for Taoiseach rather than President of the United States

Whatever way Trump plays it, he's going to have Ireland eating out of his hand and the government is going to love it. Which is going to trouble many Irish people because the majority now hate our government. Always rising taxes, ever-decreasing disposable incomes, and an unemployment rate in the double-digits can do that to people. And with some exceptions, the Irish don't particularly take sides with the rich. So if (when) Trump screws up, the backlash is going to be great fun to watch.

But for the present, Trump is going to love Ireland just like the Irish government loves him. Until he offends someone, of course, like he usually does. Or until he realizes that the Irish can be a begrudging lot and that anytime soon some of the population may well start calling him "thick as a plank" and "the carpet wearing godshite" and "the freeloading fecker from hell."  Then they'll begin peaceful demonstrations on and around his new investment, perhaps blocking access for the rich and famous who will inevitably want to visit The Donald's latest investment punt.

So welcome to Ireland, Mr Trump. And a Cead Mile Failte to you. But one piece of advice: don't piss off the natives or they'll sell that pretty little rug you wear on top of your head quicker than they'd offer you a pint. And not even you, as clever as you are, could stop 'em, so quick are the Irish to get their own back.

A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland 2014 Kindle Edition Available Now

Want to learn more about living in Ireland? Are you thinking of traveling to Ireland or moving to Ireland? If so, you might consider the purchase of the 2014 Kindle ebook edition of A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland. Now 80,000+ words long, and having sold over 10,000 copies in its various editions, it could make the perfect gift for those interested in this wonderful country. Simply click on any of the links above to purchase this new Kindle version. You can also download various free aps to read this Kindle version on any PC or Mac. 

Healing in Beara

It takes a bit of effort to get to the Beara Peninsula. Which is why not everyone who visits Ireland travels this far. Which is also why those that do either stumble across this breathtaking corner of Ireland by accident or come to this hidden gem of the world for very specific reasons. Take a look at a map and you'll see why the journey isn't exactly a simple one.

Coming from Dublin? Then it's a five hour journey by car: three hours on the new M8 Motorway to Cork City, then take the N22 to the N71 turn-off, travel overland to Kilkeal; then down to the picturesque village of Glengarriff where Maureen O'Hara lived until recently (her departure is a story in itself and filled with local intrigue and gossip), then along the coast road into the interior of Beara to Castletownbere and finally to Eyeries Village (a lovely spot that I now call home). Traveling from Limerick and Shannon Airport isn't quite as bad but it's still a bit of a stretch for most people. As I've written elsewhere: unlike the Dingle Peninsula, the Ring of Kerry, or other spots, Beara Peninsula isn't exactly on the tourist trail.

Why, then, do people come? Let me answer it this way: a few years ago, when I moved here, an Irish fellow banged on the front door. He had cycled from Cork City down to Eyeries and was desperate to find a place to pitch his tent. In that we didn't have such facilities in the village at the time, he asked me if I'd mind if he camped in my back garden. I had no problem with the idea and let him at it. Long and short of it is I now allow anybody who comes along with the appropriate gear to camp in the back yard. I've had folks from all over the world visit me: couples from Oakland California, a family of four from the Isle of Man, oldsters and youngsters from England, Scotland, Wales, France, Germany, Holland, and all places in between, and even a group of Scouts from Switzerland. It was hard work for them to get from where they had come from to the isolated microcosm called Eyeries, but come they did.

Most come here to walk or bike along the scenic coastline. Some come to find ancestors. A few are interested in local history and archaeology. But others come for something else. They come to Beara because of the energy of healing to be found here.

Finding a Space for Healing
I'm not getting any younger and I've finally learned that human beings are a fragile lot. Into every life a little rain will fall - sometimes in torrents. We can be challenged by many complaints, sometimes of our own making and sometimes not. We suffer: from physical and emotional illness; from life's hardships including the death of loved ones, divorce  and disaster. No matter how old we are, or how apparently strong and resilient, we can become scared silly by things that go bump in the night. And sometimes, we cannot cope. But if we're lucky, if the stars are aligned just right and if that Big Fella is looking in the right direction and notices our plight, we might be sent to Beara to find our way and gain a little sanity. At least that's what has happened to a number of people that I've met, me included.

How, you might ask, does the Beara Peninsula heal? I would argue in many ways, and with many often unapparent tools. It works like this: healing, I think, comes in part from a sense of inner-peace - a sense of calm that allows us crazy humans to take stock, find a bit of safety, and get on with the healing process. The Beara offers that in spades. For instance: a few years ago I met a woman from the States who had gone through a disastrous, rancorous divorce. She was in absolute bits: her sense of self-worth was zero, just like her bank account. Her self-belief and self-respect had been stripped from her. The word 'hope' had been driven from her vocabulary and disaster defined her sense of tomorrow. For two weeks she stopped in Beara and did nothing else but to give herself permission to rest and emotionally heal. She took long walks along the coast in wind, rain, and sun. She borrowed a fishing rod and fished for mackerel and pollack off the nearby rocks - something she had never done before. She swam in the cold waters of Coulagh Bay and had a couple of pints with the locals. And she went home knowing that she could cope with what would come.

Or take the couple from England. They had been through it all: a parent had died; they had been hit by the recession and had lost their home. One of them had contracted a chronic illness. In short, life looked dismal indeed. While visiting, they heard of a woman named Mary Maddison, a wonderful human being who has many gifts. While here, they visited Mary a few times. I know that Mary read their stones (which is not as weird as it may sound), allowed them to talk of their grief, sorrow, and worry, and gave them a healing session. Frankly, I'm a bit uncertain about the credibility of such healers. Many - not including Mary I hasten to add - are rip-off artists. They leverage people's frantic hopes with a snake charmer's promise and large fees to match. But Mary, who believes that her gifts were freely given and should be passed on just as freely, charges not one red cent. I'm not certain if the couple's wishes came true, but I do know that when they left Beara they left much happier and more content than when they first came.

Or take Charlie and his wife Joanne. They are from the Boston area and having heard about Beara had always wanted to visit. Joanne, a visual artist and poet, had first come on her own for a stint at Anam Cara, the local writer's retreat center. She then convinced Charlie to come along and they began to rent a local house for two, three, and four months at a stint. I met them when I first moved down here and had the pleasure of spending Thanksgiving with them. They fell in love with the area and came back frequently. And Charlie decided to die here. It was unexpected, of course. They had come over with the intention of staying a few months. Charlie was working on a book; Joanne was painting. Scheduled to return to Boston he began to feel unwell. The flight was canceled and the local doctor called. Charlie, then in his early eighties, passed away with Joanne and close friends that he had made during his visits here at his side. As Joanne says, Charlie chose to die in Beara because he felt so peaceful that it was easier for him to let go.

Dying isn't healing, of course. But Charlie found a depth of tranquility in Beara that Joanne believes he could find no where else. And that peace allowed him to slip from his mortal coil without pain or suffering. When I pass the house I always say hello to Charlie, firmly believing that he looks down on me as I trudge up the main road to the pub.

Healing in Beara offers people other tools that may be more appropriate to their needs or beliefs. I've seen visitors talk to the local Catholic Priest in hushed confidence, or attending Mass for the first time, finding a faith here that helps them to walk forward through the difficulties of life. I've seen others visit the Buddhist Retreat (Dzoghzen Beara) to find peace and compassion in meditation. Still others, mostly women, locate renewed strength and peace of mind by visiting the Hag of Beara, a weirdly-shaped rock that looks down on the Bay not far from Eyeries. It is said that the rock is the frozen persona of St Brigid, or more likely, the Celtic Goddess also called Brigid who is the embodiment of the feminine, and a source of strength and renewal.

Whatever people find or use, I watch them walk out of my sight renewed and refreshed. There is, it seems, a magic to be found in Beara. At night, when I'm on my own and standing on the deck that overlooks the Bay, I can sometimes feel it too. It is in the gentleness of the salt-smelling breeze that tickles my scalp, or in the call of the seagulls coming home from a day's fishing. It is in the voice of the tides that sweep over the rocks nearby and in the fingers of the sun's rays as they sink salmon colored over the Western horizon. The magic of healing is in the sing-song of the West Cork accents that greet me as a friend and neighbor, and in the scallops that have been given to me as a gift by a local trawler captain who I now call 'friend' and which I eat for dinner.

As a friend of mine said, a woman from America who stayed here for weeks and who struggled with cancer, and who came here to find peace and acceptance: "I can't touch it or explain it. But there's a healing to be found here in Beara that goes beyond reason."

I'll finish on that.

A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland 2014 Kindle Edition Available Now

Want to learn more about living in Ireland? Are you thinking of traveling to Ireland or moving to Ireland? If so, you might consider the purchase of the 2014 Kindle ebook edition of A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland. Now 80,000+ words long, and having sold over 10,000 copies in its various editions, it could make the perfect gift for those interested in this wonderful country. Simply click on any of the links above to purchase this new Kindle version. You can also download various free aps to read this Kindle version on any PC or Mac. 

Six Sectors Fuel Irish Employment Growth

Still more good news on the employment front. According to the OECD (The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) Ireland has the highest jobs growth rate in the European Union. Economists continue to forecast that Ireland will see over 60,000 jobs created over the next 12 months.

Six key industrial sectors seem to be fueling this dynamic growth. These include:

• IT Services / Computer Software / Hardware - hardware and software engineers, pre- and post-sales engineers and consultants, and marketers. 
• Accounting and Auditing
• Innovation and Intellectual Property Professionals
• Green Sector Employment - including renewable energy and environmental efficient technologies which will demand engineers, sales, and marketing types
• Business Services - a catch all that includes computer and information services, financial services, insurance services, and related business expertise to support a growing economy
• Medical / Health - including healthcare professionals and pharmaceuticals-related skill sets

The continuing strength of the euro v dollar would logically seem to hamper exports. However, this does not seem to be holding true in that exports from Ireland to all destinations is steadily increasing. Exports are a significant leading indicator regarding the overall recovery of Ireland from recession. As long as exports continue to rise, the Irish economy will also continue to gain traction.

Skills Shortages - An Opportunity
Irish employers are already talking about a skills shortage and the inability to find suitably qualified personnel to fill key positions. The skills shortage would seem to be particularly acute in the IT sector where thousands of vacant jobs remain unfilled. High demand for IT personnel, but an inadequate supply, should see salary increases in this area. Shortages will also be met with a demand for 'foreign'-based personnel - meaning that for those of you who desire to immigrate to Ireland and who are also IT qualified, gaining a work permit should present few problems.

More information will follow as I continue to gain insight into the current rebound of Ireland's economy.

A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland 2014 Kindle Edition Available Now

Want to learn more about living in Ireland? Are you thinking of traveling to Ireland or moving to Ireland? If so, you might consider the purchase of the 2014 Kindle ebook edition of A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland. Now 80,000+ words long, and having sold over 10,000 copies in its various editions, it could make the perfect gift for those interested in this wonderful country. Simply click on any of the links above to purchase this new Kindle version. You can also download various free aps to read this Kindle version on any PC or Mac. 

Pat Caridad nee Richards - a Heck of a Woman

For just a moment I'd like to take time to pay a little homage. Yesterday my Aunt  Pat - Patricia Caridad nee Richards - passed away. She was 82. She grew up and lived most of her life in New Jersey. A few years ago, tired of those lousy northeastern winters, she moved to Florida with her husband Lou.

Life is a candle and shorter than we all think. We light it at birth and it burns brightly for years. And usually, we never anticipate that the flame will go out. But it does for all of us. Pat, I think, had a good life. She came from a strong mix of Welsh and Acadian stock some of which originated in France and carved out living spaces in the wilds of Prince Edward Island in northeast Canada, the same blood that swims in my veins. Her smile, her laugh, her love of life are facets of her character that I will always remember and cherish.

When I heard she had passed, for some reason I Googled her. Yet I couldn't find a single entry. The Internet, and those billions of servers that store vast quantities of data has, I think, a couple of useful qualities. One of them is to help keep the memories of those we love alive.

So to you, Pat Caridad nee Richards, I wish you God's speed on a new journey. Wherever you are, whatever you're doing, I hope that you find joy and peace and good living. And to your children - my cousins - Kathy and Jim, and to your brother Bill and sister Bobby - my father and Aunt - know that Pat's loving memory will always spark a smile within me.

Vade cum Deo
Your nephew, Tom

Dalai Lama Awakens Ireland in Spiritual Documentary

Near the westerly most tip of Beara Peninsula in County Cork, perhaps twenty minutes from where I live, a stunning snow white structure thrusts out over the wild Atlantic. The structure, Dzogchen Beara, is a Tibetan Buddhist Retreat Center. People from all over the world travel here for many reasons: to heal, perhaps. To study Buddhism. To meditate. Or simply for rest and renewal. You don't have to be a practicing Buddhist to attend for in keeping with the tenants of tolerance and compassion that is at its heart, the Retreat Center welcomes everyone. And occasionally they welcome people to watch a film.

Two days ago I was welcomed, along with perhaps fifty others, to watch a screening of Dalai Lama Awakening.  This two-hour director's cut documentary follows a group of Western deep thinkers as they participate in a Synthesis conference held in India. The mission of the conference is to collaborate and brainstorm in hopes of solving the world's problems. And because they have convinced the Dalai Lama himself to provide a bit of insight and direction, they are also convinced that the end result will be successful and perhaps mind-blowing. Needless to say, it doesn't exactly turn out that way.

Los Angeles-based, Ohio-born director Khashyar Darvich traveled by boat and bus from Scotland to Beara to attend the screening as part of a nine city Ireland-wide tour. Welcoming the Beara audience, he explained: "It took me fifteen years to realize this cinematic dream. And of all the places I've screened this film (and the film has been screened globally) Dzogchen Beara is the most stunning." He could have been stretching the truth but I doubt it. The Retreat Center is located in one of the most beautiful regions of Ireland: its vistas fantastical, its mission as divine as the views from its meditation rooms. Where else could be spiritually more appropriate to screen a spiritual film about spiritual journeys than Dzogchen Beara?

Because at the core of this documentary, Darvich is telling the tale of a spiritual journey. In it we come to know perhaps ten people. Most are Americans. Most are experts within their fields. And most have no idea what they are doing. We meet astronomers and engineers, biologists, writers and spiritualists. Men and women of high intellect and awesome vanity. We watch as they come together to fuse their brain power and solve the world's problems. Working with an American facilitator and the organizer of the conference, they go on the attack with a Ten Point plan that would be more comfortable in the hallowed business halls of GE than in the frantic streets of India. But hey, what the heck. That's what Western thinkers do, after all. And of course, they don't stand a chance. They end up arguing like old women. They worry about how much (or little) time they might enjoy in face-to-face meetings with the Dalai Lama.  They promise to listen to each other, then spend most of the time talking and little time considering. In short, it's rather like watching a train wreck in progress.

Darvich is aware of this bent toward self-destruction, and tracks the participants as they roar toward possible meltdown. He showcases this conflict with a series of inter-cuts that are visually compelling, inspiring and thought-provoking. We see these experts talking about global problem solving. Yet just yards from where they sit, Darvich allows us to visit local people and we see their fight for clean water and survival and wonder why the experts don't just dig a well?

The experts tell us about practicing compassion but with words not actions. And Darvich contrasts that with an interview with the Dalai Lama and his simple advice that people can find happiness by giving of themselves. We wonder why the experts don't get up, walk a few hundred yards, and buy some clothes for the naked kids running through waste ground?

We meet an American woman, another expert, as she decides to promote Tibetan independence by banishing her Chinese K-Mart bought shoes to the hinterlands, yet at the final hour is unable to part with them. Darvich contrasts her indecision with the words of the Dalai Lama who suggests that any form of action against the Chinese on behalf of Tibet, including simple acts of boycott, would not be compassionate, could result in more harm than good, and should be carefully considered.

And we wonder why the experts don't learn from the great Master and like the Dalai Lama laugh a little more and argue a little less. We wonder why these serious deep thinkers can't distill their often terse, overly intellectual, and always self-indulgent language down to the flowing simplicity of the Teacher who is so willing to teach. But will they listen? Probably not because they're too busy listening to themselves intellectualizing about intellectualizing.

Prior to the start of the film, Darvich warned us that we could well find ourselves reflected in a mirror and haunted by the experts' inexpert thoughts, emotions, and defects of character. He also told us that we would find ourselves thinking back on this story for some time to come. For me, both predictions came true.

I found myself identifying more with the Buddhist Monks, wishing that I was a practitioner of the same sort of silence and simplicity. I found myself embarrassed by the Americans and Westerners, and the egos that they tossed into battle like intellectually directionless missiles. I found hope in the uplifting, practical and no-nonsense words of the Dalai Lama. I felt scorn at the flowery prose used by the Westerners and their overuse  of "compassion" and "meditation" as they attempted to explain the inexplicable. Many sounded like Los Angeles poseurs, so stilted and stereotypical was their flower-power language.

This is a film about the journey of a group disabled by the very intellectual bigotry that they use to define themselves, and the realization that their efforts are useless without one simple and profound focus. To quote the Dalai Lama, "The true hero is one who conquers his own anger and hatred." By the end of the film, our group of experts is confounded by how little they have achieved because of the confrontational anger that impeded their journeys. We feel sorry for them. We feel sorrier for those who have learned nothing. But we find joy for some because a few have seen the light. These experts, their egos punctured, have realized that engaging in intellectual combat by using ego as a weapon has little place in practical global problem solving. They are humbled by the experience and what little they have accomplished. And the audience is left hoping that at least some of these idiots, no matter how smart, might actually move on to achieve a thing or two.

One final note: the film is narrated by Mr. Indiana Jones himself, Harrison Ford. Darvich states that Ford talked his talk for not a single red cent, in support of the Dalai Lama. Hats off to Harrison for contributing to this worthwhile venture.

Darvich has put together a compelling, slow-burning documentary that only hits you on the way home. At two hours, this director's cut may have been a bit long, and even 15 minutes of editing would lend better focus to the story he is telling. But it made me think and continues to do so as I consider the joyful laughter of the Dalai Lama. And I contemplate his simple message that the human condition boils down to a journey for happiness. And I think:

It's a journey that I want to explore.

Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars. Recommended Viewing
For more information: https://www.facebook.com/DalaiLamaAwakening

A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland 2014 Kindle Edition Available Now

Want to learn more about living in Ireland? Are you thinking of traveling to Ireland or moving to Ireland? If so, you might consider the purchase of the 2014 Kindle ebook edition of A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland. Now 80,000+ words long, and having sold over 10,000 copies in its various editions, it could make the perfect gift for those interested in this wonderful country. Simply click on any of the links above to purchase this new Kindle version. You can also download various free aps to read this Kindle version on any PC or Mac. 

90,000 New Jobs Coming to Ireland by End-2015

Ireland's economy continues to rebound with most economic forecasters giving a positive spin to figures. For those of you thinking of a leap of faith into Ireland and a search for that elusive job, and as reported earlier, right now just might be the time.

Ibec, a representative body for Irish businesses, revised upward their economic forecasts for 2014 and 2015 citing impressive employment growth and a dramatic rise in consumer spending (for the full article reported in the Irish Times go to http://www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/irish-economy-on-way-back-says-ibec-economist-1.1752320.

GDP, a measure of economic activity including exports, is expected to grow by 2.9 percent in 2014 with further growth of 2.3 percent anticipated for 2015. This appears to be driven by positive consumer sentiment (the highest its been since 2007) which should see increased domestic spending.

Ibec anticipates that due to a number of factors, 90,000 jobs will be created in Ireland through 2015. That's a heck of a turn-around when considering  that Ireland's unemployment rate, and huge job losses, was spiraling out of control until quite recently.

As an open economy, Ireland's growth depends heavily on the economic health of its many export partners including Britain and the United States. However, the global economy (including the EU) continues to rebound which should help to fuel Ireland's economic turn-around.

The country still faces risks, of course. Euro exchange rates (compared to Sterling and Dollars) continues to strengthen making euro-currency goods and services more expensive. This could dampen Irish exports, which helped to drag the economy into contraction in late 2013. Increased direct and indirect taxes recently introduced by the Irish government (including property taxes, the Universal Social Charge, and the soon to be introduced water rates) will also continue to have a somewhat negative impact on Irish consumer spending by reducing disposable income further.

All in all, however, the outlook for Ireland's economy remains positive. Our economy appears to be rising Phoenix-like from the ashes of recession. And while over 11 percent of Ireland's workforce remains unemployed, and though we continue to wear hair shirts that causes us to consider every penny we spend, Ireland is at last seeing the bright light of hope at the end of a long economic winter.

A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland 2014 Kindle Edition Available Now

Want to learn more about living in Ireland? Are you thinking of traveling to Ireland or moving to Ireland? If so, you might consider the purchase of the 2014 Kindle ebook edition of A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland. Now 80,000+ words long, and having sold over 10,000 copies in its various editions, it could make the perfect gift for those interested in this wonderful country. Simply click on any of the links above to purchase this new Kindle version. You can also download various free aps to read this Kindle version on any PC or Mac. 

The Wild Atlantic Way: A Breathtaking Journey

For those of you interested in such things, Ireland has a new tourist trail that you'll be hearing quite a bit about: The Wild Atlantic Way.  Invariably dreamed up by some marketing mandarin in the sacred halls of the Irish Tourist Board, this immense trail - the longest in Ireland - is definitely worth talking about. Why? Because it offers some of the most scenic tours in the country and is well worth considering.

This 'Road Odyssey' was launched to great fanfare by the government who takes much pleasure in such pronouncements. The 2,500 km (approx 1500 mile) journey stretches from Donegal's Malin Head, along the entire West Coast of Ireland, finally ending at Mizen Head in County Cork. It is not only the longest single tourist route in Ireland, but also the country's first long distance driving route. The idea, of course, is to plant the Wild Atlantic Way into the minds of potential global tourists, hoping to replicate the same reverence as Route 66 and the Pacific Coast Highway in the United States.

Fifteen hundred miles of smashing western coastline is a bit much to drive in a single trip, of course. So what Wild Atlantic Way marketers have done is to break it up into four bite-sized segments:

Northwest - including Donegal, Leitrim & Sligo
The West - including Mayo and Galway
Midwest - including Clare and Limerick
Southwest - with Kerry and Cork

Each segment offers geographies, micro-environments, and vistas that are unique. The great hope, of course, is that tourists will flock to visit one segment then come back to complete the entire Odyssey.

Planning and Information
Failte Ireland has done a great job of trumpeting this new journey and a wide range of websites are available that describe each segment.  http://www.ireland.com/en-gb/wild-atlantic-way goes into great detail regarding each drive and provides online methods to book; http://www.activeme.ie/guides/driving/wild-atlantic-way-scenic-drive-west-of-ireland/ offers detailed maps of each segment together with points of interest; a February 2014 article in the Irish Independent (http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/10m-wild-atlantic-way-driving-route-launched-30047238.html) goes out of its way to report that the Irish government is spending up to €10 million to support and promote the spectacular drive.

And while I have not driven all of it, what Ireland is promoting is not mere propaganda. For I've found that the West Coast of Ireland offers some of the most spectacular scenery in the world and the Wild Atlantic Way is a method of promoting it as a whole.  Over the years I've had opportunities to visit Donegal and its amazing beaches whose azure waters would not be out of place in the Caribbean; Galway, with Connemara, its splendid scenery, and quick side trips to the Aran Islands; Clare and yes, Limerick, and the unique ecosystems that the area has to offer; and Cork - did I mention that I live in County Cork? - offering scenery and coastlines that I believe are unrivaled anywhere.

If you're planning a trip to Ireland, perhaps have a look at what The Wild Atlantic Way has to offer. No matter which segment you choose I'm certain that it will offer memories that you will long cherish.

A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland 2014 Kindle Edition Available Now

Want to learn more about living in Ireland? Are you thinking of traveling to Ireland or moving to Ireland? If so, you might consider the purchase of the 2014 Kindle ebook edition of A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland. Now 80,000+ words long, and having sold over 10,000 copies in its various editions, it could make the perfect gift for those interested in this wonderful country. Simply click on any of the links above to purchase this new Kindle version. You can also download various free aps to read this Kindle version on any PC or Mac. 

Falling Unemployment Rate Signals Jobs Growth

Recently, I heard a strange news report on the radio.  A large flock of sheep were blocking the M50, one of Dublin's largest motorways. Invariably, the woolly flock was protesting the imminent start of Lent and the Easter season, during which millions of Irish people turn to Lamb as a main course.  Sheep, as you can imagine, aren't particularly pleased with such practices. Hence, the protest. 

A year ago, blocking the M50 would not have been an effective use of sheep power because this vital artery was almost empty. Because so many people had lost their jobs, I suspect that the local councils were considering turning motorways into expansive football pitches just to use up the vacant concrete. But now, a year later, Ireland's economy is getting back on track. The M50 is buzzing again and sheep will have to find a different way to protest their victim-hood.  And a buzzing M50 means that Ireland’s job market is picking up too.  So....

If you're considering a move to Ireland, now just might be the time.

According to Ireland's Central Statistics Office (www.cso.ie) unemployment is falling like a brick and now stands at 11.9 percent.  This is slightly above the European Union average, but considering the lousy state of the economy only months ago, Ireland seems to be turning a corner.

A wide range of sectors are now looking to fill key positions with the skills of talented people.  Information technology, tourism-related accommodation and food service jobs, and administration and support services activities would seem to be leading the comeback.  Even construction jobs are gaining ground, with almost 7,000 more people employed today than a year ago. The Irish Independent, one of Ireland's largest newspapers, reports "The Irish economy will pick up speed this year....There are indications that domestic demand is starting to perform more strongly....The (Irish) economy is set to expand 1.8 percent (in 2014) and 2.9 percent (in 2015)." The article also points out that the UK economy - Ireland's largest trading partner - is booming strongly which will contribute to continued growth for Ireland.

Of course, there are still dark clouds on the horizon that could scuttle the upturn. Ireland's open economy is still heavily in debt. We'll all be paying off the cost of this Great Recession for generations to come. Ireland's banking system is now less competitive because a number of banks either exited the market or went out of business during the past few years.  This makes getting a loan, mortgage, or small business credit facility difficult. The lack of a competitive banking system, and the low-risk strategy adopted by the remaining banks, could derail Ireland's recovery (and its job market) because the lack of monetary infusion could deflate Ireland's fragile recovery.  

International tensions could also negatively impact the country.  For instance, Putin's Crimean land grab could result in mayhem across Europe as the EU applies sanctions against Russia and Russia responds in kind. Ireland could suffer greatly if tensions escalate.

But for now, all seems positive enough. In fact, the outlook of many Irish people is more positive than it's been since 2007 and the start of the recessionary disaster. 

If you're thinking of getting work in Ireland, simply Google 'Ireland jobs' or similar key phrases. Alternatively, see the list of links at the right hand side of this Blog. But if you're coming over, do it soon. Before the sheep finally get really nasty and turn the M50 into pasture. 

A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland 2014 Kindle Edition Available Now

Want to learn more about living in Ireland? Are you thinking of traveling to Ireland or moving to Ireland? If so, you might consider the purchase of the 2014 Kindle ebook edition of A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland. Now 80,000+ words long, and having sold over 10,000 copies in its various editions, it could make the perfect gift for those interested in this wonderful country. Simply click on any of the links above to purchase this new Kindle version. You can also download various free aps to read this Kindle version on any PC or Mac. 

Beara Peninsula, A Hidden Irish Gem

First published on CNN, March 2014. For the original article go to http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1107155.

As an American living in Ireland since 1982, I finally left the big smoke of the Dublin area to find a bit of serenity.  It took awhile to locate, this amazing place. But I've decided to let you in on the secret: if you're looking for serenity in Ireland, as well as some absolutely wonderful vistas, you could do much worse than the Beara Peninsula and the tiny village of Eyeries County Cork.

Located 5 hours southwest of Dublin and only 2 hours from Cork International Airport, Beara is a hidden gem of solitude. One that many have never heard of.

What makes Beara Special?
It's a small place, is Beara. A rugged, isolated spot filled with mountains, sea, sky, and yes, Irish rain. Many have heard of County Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula. Or the other tourist spots like Killarney, the Cliffs of Moher, and Galway. Often these places are thronged with visitors.  But few have heard of Beara and that's what makes it so special.

I landed here just over three years ago, a guy intent on finding some peace and a little bit of friendship. What I found here has renewed my spirit with wonder.

I bought a small blue cottage in Eyeries, a little village of only 65 people. Whoops, make that 66 including me. It sits on the single main street populated by such houses all sporting different pastel colours - a rainbow of living spaces that brings the village to life. It's so pretty that Bord Failte, the Irish tourist board, often showcases it as an example of Irish village life.

There's not much in Eyeries, to be frank. The houses as mentioned, of course. A Post Office. A couple of shops. The church. Two pubs (how could we ever not have a pub?) that welcome visitors with some of the best pints of Guinness I've ever tasted in this country.

Then there are the people: the fishermen, farmers, artists, poets and writers who live here. All welcoming. Grousing about the weather as they greet me because it's been blowing a gale since late December with winds up to 100 mph. Rattling on about the dire economy over endless cups of tea or pints of Black. Or screaming my ear off as the Irish Rugby team beats France by only two points in a squeaker to win the Six Nations Cup. (Oh we were so delighted to get one over on the English this time!)

It's a small wondrous tapestry, is this part of the world. And what glitters most in this lost corner of Ireland is the scenery. The blue house I live in might not look much from the main street. But come inside and it's a different matter and you'll soon learn why I fell in love with the place.

Walk through the living room and into the back room. A picture window frames an amazing vista: that's Coulaugh Bay just in front of you. The Wild Atlantic beyond. Scarrif Island is the big one that flounders in the distance, looking like a restless whale. To the right, the mountains of Kerry wander down to the sea.

Walk out the back door if you care to. The wind blows and from the back deck you'll hear gulls cry and billowing waves crash onto the rocks a quarter of a mile away and a hundred feet below. If the sun is shining - a rare enough event - the Bay glitters as if St Patrick had dusted it with glinting silver coins. Or on bad days, sit and watch as the seas roar in, their throaty welcome seeming to shake the house even from this far away; their wild confusion both breathtaking and frightening. It's on days like this that I'm glad I'm not a fisherman, working a half-decker to catch my quota of mackerel, but instead sipping tea inside the warmth of the house.

And beyond Eyeries lies the balance of the Peninsula pointing like a westerly finger into the Atlantic. There's Allihies at its western most point, a small village made famous by its copper mines. When the mines closed a hundred years ago, the miners picked up and settled in Butte, Montana giving that locality a decidedly Irish flare. Drive on down to visit the museum and rest yourself on the soft sands of the village's wonderful beach. When you're finihsed sunning yourself, drive east to the town of Castletownbere, one of the largest fishing harbors in Ireland. During WW I, and just off the coast, the British hid their entire Atlantic Fleet from prowling U-Boats, so deep is that part of the Bay.

Then keep driving east along the northerly coast of Bantry Bay. The Slieve Mishkish Mountains, the spine of Beara Peninsula, accompany you all the way, their bald sheer cliffs painted green and yellow in summer with blooming heather.

And you're then in Glengarriff, home until recently of actress Maureen O'Hara of The Quiet Man fame. It's during this drive that you can look back at the serenity of it all, knowing that only three thousand other human beings call Beara their home. And that you, lucky person, have left the maddening tourist trail to discover the beauty of this area for yourself.

The Beara Peninsula is a hidden gem buried deep within the wilderness of Ireland's Wild West. Few seem to know about it, not even the Irish. We'd like to keep it that way, of course. But if you, like me, require a much needed rest; long for some tranquility; want to get off the tourist trail to experience vistas that are some of the best in all of Ireland, I'm sure that the welcoming people of Beara will let you stay. Why wouldn't they? They let me stay, after all. I'm sure they'll extend you the same welcome.

For more on Eyeries and the Beara Peninsula, go to http://www.eyeries.ie. And for more stories about one Yank's adventures of learning to live and survive in Ireland, go to http://survivingireland.blogspot.com.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day to all and I'll hoist a few for all CNN viewers. In fact, that's what I'll do right now!

My very best  - Tom

A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland 2014 Kindle Edition Available Now

Want to learn more about living in Ireland? Are you thinking of traveling to Ireland or moving to Ireland? If so, you might consider the purchase of the 2014 Kindle ebook edition of A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland. Now 80,000+ words long, and having sold over 10,000 copies in its various editions, it could make the perfect gift for those interested in this wonderful country. Simply click on any of the links above to purchase this new Kindle version. You can also download various free aps to read this Kindle version on any PC or Mac.