Early Equinox Startles World: Scientists Puzzled as Earth's Axis Wobbles

 Irish Publisher Forced to Launch Novel Early. Writer states, "Dolphin Song was supposed to be an Autumn Read. Now it's a Beach Read!"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Dateline: Beara Peninsula, County Cork, Ireland, Aug 9 2021)

Astronomers at Ireland's Dunsink Observatory today announced a startling discovery. Due to an unanticipated, rapid shift in the Earth's axis, the annual equinox is occurring approximately 6 weeks earlier than scheduled.

As most people know, the equinox is the instant in time when the plane of our planet's equator passes through the geometric center of the Sun's disk. Occurring twice each year, daytime and nighttime hours are approximately the same all over the planet. 

Dunsink's operational director,  Professor Jake McSky,  stated: "Einstein is turning in his grave because this proves the end to the theory of relativity. Astronomers and physicists all over the world will have to tear up past astronomical assumptions."

Forced Early Launch of New Novel

The managing director of Storylines Entertainment Ltd, an Irish media company, explained that the Earth's wobble caught the publisher by complete surprise, which disrupted months of planning.

"The brilliant new novel, Dolphin Song  by Tom Richards, was scheduled for release on 21 September of this year - on the day of the equinox because that day is unique (as is Tom's book)," she stated. "However, because the equinox has shifted, we have been forced to bring forward the release date to today, 9 August 2021.

"The Kindle eBook edition, scheduled for September release, has been moved forward, too. This version will be published in two-day's time. As we have updated the Amazon page, you may find it a bit 'clunky'. However, you can pre-order now and the eBook will be delivered to you ASAP. We apologize for any inconvenience caused."

Introductory Price Remains at $1.49

This reporter asked the Storylines Entertainment MD if the current presales price of the Kindle edition would be maintained.

"That's what we promised our customers and we keep our word!" she re-iterated. "The $1.49 presales price will be maintained until 20 September. After that, it will revert to the RSP of almost five bucks. We stand by our promises."

(Later, the executive was caught on a hot-mic, griping: "Lord only knows how much this will cost the company. Heads will roll like it was the Siege of Wexford!")

Author Grouses About Scheduling Change

When contacted by this reporter, novelist Richards was at a loss for words. 

"I don't know what to tell you," he gasped. "We've worked so hard to stay on schedule. Dolphin Song was supposed to be an Autumn read. You know...one of those 'I'll cozy up to the fireplace and enjoy a little Irish romantic fantasy' sort of books. But now it's a Beach Read? Unbelievable!"

Should readers have questions, they might want to contact the author on his new website: www.tomrichards.ie, which is about to go live. "At least that's still on schedule", the author whined. 

DOLPHIN SONG IS OUT NOW!

Due to the scheduling screw-up, you can order the Irish Romantic Fantasy Dolphin Song right now:

Order the eBook Kindle copy (due to rescheduling, it is available ASAP):

o   Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Dolphin-Song-Tom-Richards-ebook/dp/B099QRTH62/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=dolphin+song+by+tom+richards&qid=1628076120&sr=8-2

o   Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B099QRTH62/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2

o   Amazon Germany: https://www.amazon.de/Dolphin-Song-English-Tom-Richards-ebook/dp/B099QRTH62/ref=sr_1_1?__mk_de_DE=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&dchild=1&keywords=dolphin+song+by+tom+richards&qid=1628238314&sr=8-1

o   Amazon Australia: https://www.amazon.com.au/Dolphin-Song-Tom-Richards-ebook/dp/B099QRTH62/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=dolphin+song+by+tom+richards&qid=1628238862&s=books&sr=1-1

Order the Paperback copy:

o   Amazon.com - https://www.amazon.com/Dolphin-Song-Tom-Richards/dp/0955021219/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=dolphin+song+by+tom+richards&qid=1628515724&sr=8-1

o   Amazon.co.uk - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dolphin-Song-Tom-Richards/dp/0955021219/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=dolphin+song+by+tom+richards&qid=1628515787&sr=8-1

o   Amazon Germany - https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Tom-Richards/dp/0955021219/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=dolphin+song+by+tom+Richards&qid=1628515834&sr=8-1

o   Amazon Australia - https://www.amazon.com.au/Dolphin-Song-Tom-Richards/dp/0955021219/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=dolphin+song+by+tom+richards&qid=1628515880&sr=8-1

…  and in all Amazon marketplaces across the globe. Note that the shifting earth axis has not affected Amazon service levels

Other

Follow Tom on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/tommyjohn and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dolphinsongthenovel/

Download your Free First Chapter of Dolphin Song here and pass it on: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KNn2v7-DOKJnX4_-4Yki59j-SdjUSVeb/view?usp=sharing  - That's right. Absolutely FREE!

- 30 - 

Visit and Discover the Mystery of Irish Legends

As Ireland continues to reopen (and yes, that really is going to happen. Our esteemed government has indicated that international travel restrictions will be lifted in two weeks' time - which, of course, is subject to change), many American friends of mine have shared their plans to visit this lovely country. Their usual itinerary goes something like this: a visit to Dublin and the Guinness Hop Store or similar tourist attractions, a drive to the west coast to perhaps take in Dingle or the Kerry Way, and maybe a visit to Blarney to kiss the famous stone and inherit the Gift of the Gab. 

When they list these usual tourist sites, I'll often frown and shake my head. My thinking goes: "Why visit a place thronged by visitors when so much other magic is available and often forgotten?"

So, if they ask me for advice I tell 'em straight: Stay off the tourist trail and find the mystery of Ireland for yourself. And nothing better sums up that mystery than the wonders of Irish Legend. Often, these destinations are well off the tourist trail. So, while you're learning about Irish lore, you can take a breath of fresh air at the same time. And, there's so much to learn...

From the Salmon of Knowledge to the Legend of the Banshee; the mischievous Puca to the mystery of Tir na nOg; the Hag of Beara to the Cattle Raid of Cooley - Ireland is imbued with a deep well of stories that will make your skin tingle. And what's quite fun is you can often visit the very locations that make these stories come alive. 

Allihies and the Children of Lir

I'll start by pointing out a village just down the road from where I live. Allihies, located at the very western tip of Beara Peninsula, is an isolated little spot with some of the most stunning views in all of Ireland. On a clear day, the Skellig Islands rise like a fleet of invading warriors from a wild Atlantic ocean. Take a walk through the village and you'll soon learn that it is the site of one of Ireland's oldest copper mines. But look closer and you'll find the magic of Irish Legend.

The Children of Lir is an ancient tale involving romance, betrayal, transformation and banishment. It is a fairly long legend but the short version goes something like this: the second wife of Lir was jealous of his four children, born to him from a previous marriage. In a pique of rage, she transformed the children into four swans, banishing them for nine-hundred years. For the last three-hundred years, the children were forced to fly above the Atlantic, never touching land.

The spell ended only when Saint Patrick came to Ireland, bringing Christianity with him. Upon hearing a holy bell toll across the barren waters, the children flew to the remote village of Allihies. There, they were blessed by a monk and transformed back into human beings. But of course, and as many legends do, the tale ends in tragedy because they immediately perished and were then buried.

The question remains, however: where are Lir's four children interred?

Many places across the country claim the Children of Lir as their own. But in Allihies, locals believe that Lir's four children are buried at a site not far from the sea. Allihies is, therefore, the true location of their resting place.

And what makes it even more interesting is: you can visit the place. It's simple to do.

Drive to Allihies and start looking for the sign: Children of Lir Mythical Site. Park, and after a short walk, you'll stumble on the white stone which marks their grave. Say a prayer, however, because you might be transformed into a white swan, too!

The Beara: a Place of Legends

Living in Eyeries as I do, and as a resident of Beara Peninsula, I can look out my back door to find an endless source of legends. It is part of the tapestry of living here; of the rich fabric that I'm fortunate enough to find myself in. As Ireland gets back to business, and as visitors again flock to these shores, I hope you'll discover the legends for yourself. 

Can I help?

If you have questions about Ireland - where to go, how to get a job here, how to get a visa, or similar... or if you just want to say hello, feel free to drop me an email:

tomjrichards@gmail.com. 

I may not have the answers but I'll try to point you in the right direction. And if I don't get back it just means that I'm overwhelmed.... and apologies if that happens.  Slan!

The 2021 - and Final! - Edition of A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland
is Now Available on Amazon!

Though the world is a poorer place right now, we still look to the horizon with hope. If you're dreaming of living and working in - or traveling to - Ireland, this book might be for you. At over 90,000 words, A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland, 2021, gives readers an insight of what it's like to immigrate to this beautiful country: of how to become a citizen, how to get a job and work visa, how to enjoy a perfect pint of Guinness, and the amazing tapestry that is Ireland. 

For more information, visit Amazon and A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland, 2021 Edition. 

The 2021 - and Final! - Edition of A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland is Now Available!

It's been a long journey. What started as a series of notes about this Yank's uncertain decision to uproot his life and replant his soul in Ireland has turned into an Eleven Edition exploration. 

Most years, I've edited A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland to reflect this country's current events, imparting the challenges and opportunities present in this country, hoping that it might be of help if you are considering a similar voyage. This year, just in time for Saint Patrick's Day, I offer an edition which explores the difficulties this country faces: pandemic, Brexit, and everything else.

At over 90,000 words, it's the biggest edition yet. 

I include an extensive guide that explores how to immigrate into this country and get a job here. I look at the faint, glimmering light of hope that is creeping over the country as its people are vaccinated, and to the opportunities that will again skyrocket heavenward when Ireland re-opens for business. 

Once again, I try to answer those questions friends have posed to me over the years: Tom, why did you immigrate to Ireland? How did you become a citizen? How did you get a job there? 

And the big one: Can I do that, too?

The answer to the last question is the most challenging. The short answer is: Yes. But the process is much more complicated than one simple word. Which is why I wrote the book in the first place.

This is the final edition of A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland. After all the years of writing it, I guess I've finally run out of things to say. Too, this head of mine isn't as young as it once. It's time to move on, just as the world is moving on.

To all those who have purchased past editions of A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland (and there are over twenty thousand of you), please know how grateful I am.

To those of you who are looking for an easy read about a nutty Yank's wild journeys in Ireland over the past 39 years, I hope you buy a copy of this 2021 edition.

And to everyone else: living the life of an expatriate has been one hellofa crazy ride. Recently, someone asked me if I'd do it again. The truthful answer is, probably not. It was far more work than I could have imagined.

Yet, though I didn't know it when I first moved here, I was given an immense gift. I've learned that living in a country different from your birth is a tremendous opportunity. Circumstances that are part of an immigrant's experience push you to perform to your very best. You're constantly reaching farther and higher because no one is there to catch you should you fall. 

You're on your own, and you learn that the only one you can rely on is the person inside.

I didn't always succeed. Often, I failed miserably. I probably would have made much more money had I never ventured to a country so different from that of my birth. But I know that had I stayed in America, I would never have tried my hand at so many different things to make a living for my family - from weighbridge salesman to writer; owner of a marketing agency to operations director of leased offices company, to the owner of a 'Tent Camping' site resting next to an amazingly beautiful Atlantic Bay. I was forced to learn. Either that, or perish. 

I chose the former and decided to survive.

Being an immigrant isn't easy. In fact, it's damned hard. (Think about THAT when you read about a family of immigrants trying to cross a U.S. border river to make a new life). But, it is also incredibly rewarding. And I'm not talking about the pocketbook definition of that word.

'Rewarding', as in learning to realize the innate goodness of people because you've met so many; 'rewarding', as in learning that even when you want to give up and drown yourself because you can't earn a proper crust, you discover that you are stronger than you thought because you'll keep trying; 'rewarding', as in waking up one day after 39 years of expatriate life, and finally understanding that the challenges you've encountered have also taught you many valuable lessons. You'll smile a bit, realizing that your struggle has burnished your soul with the heat of fear and heartache, transforming at last to hope and a bit of joyful triumph. 

'Rewarding', as you suddenly realize that the decision you made to stay here was the right one, after all.

To all those who yearn for the life of an expatriate, I wish you well. I also stress how carefully you should plan your journey. If you don't, you might bite off more than you can chew.

Mind you, I never planned and looked what happened to me?

A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland, 2021 Edition is out now on Amazon. Just click here.

(If the link doesn't work, go to: https://www.amazon.com/Survivors-Guide-Living-Ireland-2021-ebook/dp/B08YRP3Z9N/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=a+survivor%27s+guide+to+living+in+ireland+2021&qid=1615887557&s=books&sr=1-1)

My best to all.

Tom

 

A Winning Way to Find a Literary Agent

I've been writing fiction, non-fiction, memoirs, blogs, websites, case studies - in fact pretty much anything that will take ink (or virtual ink) - for many years. And if you're also a writer you know how tough it is. But writing - fortunately or unfortunately - is only the start of the process particularly if you want to become traditionally published. Having finished a manuscript a writer still has many more mountains to climb.

One of the toughest of those peaks is landing a literary agent. In days gone by I was fortunate to have just such a person. But that fellow is long since retired. Consequently, and having finished a new novel, Dolphin Song (which was a huge undertaking for me - I won't even tell you how many years it took to complete), I have to start all over again.

In other words, my voyage toward finding a literary agent is once again just leaving port.

If you're in the same boat, then you're possibly doing what I am... a) asking anyone you know if they have an agent and, if so, begging for a reference  b) scouring the Internet for appropriate information and contacts and c) praying that your erstwhile journey will eventually prove fruitful before your emotional ship sinks at port.

However, I've found another avenue and thought I'd share it with you. A writer from Cincinnati, Mr Chuck Sambuchino, has organized a series of online contests - Dear Lucky Agent - which matches agents looking for authors and authors looking for agents. It's a wonderful idea which has proven successful for many.

So if, like me, you're looking for that elusive, plucky, loyal agent why not check out Chuck's website: http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/guide-to-literary-agents/24th-free-dear-lucky-agent-contest-literary-fiction.  Alternatively, visit the contest URL: http://tinyurl.com/hmelhd3  Or contact him via Facebook or Twitter (@chucksambuchino ). 

"Oops, No Fuel" - A Pilot's Tale of a C-46

This particular entry has nothing to do with Ireland, actually. You see, my father - now 87 and a retired United Airlines Captain - this morning told me a story. It's a keeper and I wanted to share it with you all. Too, I'm fortunate to have a number of friends who are airline pilots and in many ways this is for them.

You see, these friends of mine fly those big jetliners made of aluminium metal tubes across the wide oceans to global points of interest. While they really are professionally-trained pilots (honest!) I suspect they spend much of their time on trips playing whist because the aircraft is usually on autopilot and controlled by computers much more powerful than those that steered the Apollo Moon Shots across the vacuum of space. In other words, and unless something goes quite wrong (which very rarely happens) they don't have a whole lot to do.

Sixty years ago that wasn't the case. Back in 1953, my father was a budding new co-pilot for the now defunct Resort Airlines. In those days he flew a C-46 (see pic), also a metal tube, that was driven through the air by two large Pratt & Whitney engines which spun a couple of large metal props. The objective of any flight was to reach the final destination by making certain those propellers kept spinning 'round n 'round.

Like any aircraft (except for those new-fangled solar powered babies which soar silently through the sky), the C-46 engines were powered by aviation gasoline. This particular aircraft had three fuel tanks: a mid-sized one at the front of the airplane, a smaller one at the rear, and the main tank in the center.

Dad tells me that keeping the engines supplied with fuel was a rather critical manual procedure (unless you wanted the engines to stop running): use the forward tank first until it went dry. Then, before the engines stopped spinning, switch to the rear tank until that one went dry. And when both were empty, switch to the final main tank to safely complete the rest of the flight.

Switching tanks was a manual task. Each engine had a separate fuel control wheel. So for instance, spin the wheel for the left (port) engine a bit and you'd switch to a new tank. Spin the wheel for the right (starboard) tank in the same manner for a similar result. And both pilots - the captain and the co-pilot - had this same set of fuel controls so each could easily access them. All the pilots had to do was remember which tank was filled with what, and who was responsible for switching which engine when the time came, and it worked just fine.

But then there was the trip Dad told me about, flying from Boise Idaho to Kansas City . This was a Cargo flight so no passengers or crew (other than our erstwhile pilots) were on board.The night flight took his C-46 over America's gigantic Rocky Mountains. A C-46 wasn't pressurized which meant they couldn't fly above 10,000 feet. So they had to be sorta careful 'cause the mountain peaks weren't too very far below.

Anyway, Dad the co-pilot and his Captain were having a merry little flight over the mountains. The props were spinning 'round and 'round as they should be. It was time for a fuel change (they were running the engines  on the front fuel tank which was approaching empty) so Dad switched both engines to the rear tank. No problem. When:

Both engines went deathly silent due to fuel starvation and the props, with nothing better to do, turned freely in the breeze which was absolutely not the plan. The C-46 was now a flying brick. Flustered, and unbeknownst to each other, both pilots reached for their respective fuel wheels at the same time. The problem? Neither realized the other was switching tanks. So Dad moved the fuel wheels for both engines up a notch. The Captain did the same thing. And the engines sputtered to life. They grinned at each other in great relief and joked about it. Which is when...

The engines died again. They had not yet recovered the altitude they'd lost the first time the engines stopped running, and neither could figure out what had happened. What they didn't realize was: when switching tanks the last time, and in all the confusion, they'd managed to switch both engines to the front tank - which, of course, was empty.

After much swearing, praying, and wondering just how close a rocky peak might be to the aircraft's underbelly, they finally discovered their mistake. They switched the engines to the full main tank. Both engines caught. The props started spinning around again, and they completed the rest of the flight to Kansas City without another word said between them, thanking their lucky stars all the way.

Until today Dad never told me this story. And I don't wonder. If he and his Captain hadn't realized their mistake, I might not be here. And as for my airline pilot buddies: thank God for those little computers is all I can say. At least you can keep on playing whist knowing you'll never have to remember to manually switch tanks.

Happy Landings!

A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland 2015 / 2016 Kindle Edition Now Available!
If this blog interests you, then you might want to know more about living and working in Ireland. Are you thinking of traveling to Ireland, moving to Ireland, working in Ireland? Do you want to understand what makes the Irish tick, how you can get a job here, and how to survive in this wonderful country? If so, consider purchasing the 2015 Kindle edition of A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland. Over 11,000 have already done so! Now over 85,000 words long, this book could make the perfect gift for those interested in this wonderful country. Simply click on any of the above links to purchase the new 2015 Kindle edition. You can also download free apps to read the Kindle version on any PC or Mac. 

"Oops, No Fuel" - A Pilot's Tale of a C-46

This particular entry has nothing to do with Ireland, actually. You see, my father - now 87 and a retired United Airlines Captain - this morning told me a story. It's a keeper and I wanted to share it with you all. Too, I'm fortunate to have a number of friends who are airline pilots and in many ways this is for them.

You see, these friends of mine fly those big jetliners made of aluminium metal tubes across the wide oceans to global points of interest. While they really are professionally-trained pilots (honest!) I suspect they spend much of their time on trips playing whist because the aircraft is usually on autopilot and controlled by computers much more powerful than those that steered the Apollo Moon Shots across the vacuum of space. In other words, and unless something goes quite wrong (which very rarely happens) they don't have a whole lot to do.

Sixty years ago that wasn't the case. Back in 1953, my father was a budding new co-pilot for the now defunct Resort Airlines. In those days he flew a C-46 (see pic), also a metal tube, that was driven through the air by two large Pratt & Whitney engines which spun a couple of large metal props. The objective of any flight was to reach the final destination by making certain those propellers kept spinning 'round n 'round.

Like any aircraft (except for those new-fangled solar powered babies which soar silently through the sky), the C-46 engines were powered by aviation gasoline. This particular aircraft had three fuel tanks: a mid-sized one at the front of the airplane, a smaller one at the rear, and the main tank in the center.

Dad tells me that keeping the engines supplied with fuel was a rather critical manual procedure (unless you wanted the engines to stop running): use the forward tank first until it went dry. Then, before the engines stopped spinning, switch to the rear tank until that one went dry. And when both were empty, switch to the final main tank to safely complete the rest of the flight.

Switching tanks was a manual task. Each engine had a separate fuel control wheel. So for instance, spin the wheel for the left (port) engine a bit and you'd switch to a new tank. Spin the wheel for the right (starboard) tank in the same manner for a similar result. And both pilots - the captain and the co-pilot - had this same set of fuel controls so each could easily access them. All the pilots had to do was remember which tank was filled with what, and who was responsible for switching which engine when the time came, and it worked just fine.

But then there was the trip Dad told me about, flying from Boise Idaho to Kansas City. The night flight took his C-46 over America's gigantic Rocky Mountains. A C-46 wasn't pressurized which meant they couldn't fly above 10,000 feet. So they had to be sorta careful 'cause the mountain peaks weren't too very far below.

Anyway, Dad the co-pilot and his Captain were having a merry little flight over the mountains. The props were spinning 'round and 'round as they should be. It was time for a fuel change (they were running the engines  on the front fuel tank which was approaching empty) so Dad switched both engines to the rear tank. No problem. When:

Both engines went deathly silent due to fuel starvation and the props, with nothing better to do, turned freely in the breeze which was absolutely not the plan. The C-46 was now a flying brick. Flustered, and unbeknownst to each other, both pilots reached for their respective fuel wheels at the same time. The problem? Neither realized the other was switching tanks. So Dad moved the fuel wheels for both engines up a notch. The Captain did the same thing. And the engines sputtered to life. They grinned at each other in great relief and joked about it. Which is when...

The engines died again. They had not yet recovered the altitude they'd lost the first time the engines stopped running, and neither could figure out what had happened. What they didn't realize was: when switching tanks the last time, and in all the confusion, they'd managed to switch both engines to the front tank - which, of course, was empty.

After much swearing, praying, and wondering just how close a rocky peak might be to the aircraft's underbelly, they finally discovered their mistake. They switched the engines to the full main tank. Both engines caught. The props started spinning around again, and they completed the rest of the flight to Kansas City without another word said between them, thanking their lucky stars all the way.

Until today Dad never told me this story. And I don't wonder. If he and his Captain hadn't realized their mistake, I might not be here. And as for my airline pilot buddies: thank God for those little computers is all I can say. At least you can keep on playing whist knowing you'll never have to remember to manually switch tanks.

Happy Landings!

A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland 2015 / 2016 Kindle Edition Now Available!
If this blog interests you, then you might want to know more about living and working in Ireland. Are you thinking of traveling to Ireland, moving to Ireland, working in Ireland? Do you want to understand what makes the Irish tick, how you can get a job here, and how to survive in this wonderful country? If so, consider purchasing the 2015 Kindle edition of A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland. Over 11,000 have already done so! Now over 85,000 words long, this book could make the perfect gift for those interested in this wonderful country. Simply click on any of the above links to purchase the new 2015 Kindle edition. You can also download free apps to read the Kindle version on any PC or Mac. 

Ireland: In One Lifetime How the Tide Has Changed

I've lived in Ireland now for almost 33 years. With the advantage of hindsight, what I did not know when I moved here in 1982 but what I do now is that in only my lifetime - within the span of a single generation - Ireland would fundamentally change.

As I've said many times in the pages of this Blog, Ireland is no longer a twee little country sporting only carts and donkeys, coal fireplaces, and potholed narrow country lanes. It is no longer a land of poverty and ignorance. It is not a country of Leprechauns, pots of gold, or faeries. Yes, if you look hard enough you can find some of these. Even Leprechauns, I suspect, if you've drunk a belly full of porter. While such things aren't quite dead, most have been replaced by a resurgent Ireland that sports its modernity like a newly married groom. Even in the grips of astounding recession, this country is now renowned for its industry, relative wealth, and forward-looking thinking.

Much has changed since 1982. Many of those changes were wanted. Ireland was bloody poor when I moved here. And though few noticed because most of us were poor, it was heart-breaking to hear of families (including mine) who couldn't heat the house properly, couldn't eat properly, couldn't phone a relative, and couldn't take a Sunday drive simply due to the lack of a few bob. Today, most (but not all) do not want for such basics.

And yet....

I must admit that I find that I (like many Irish) miss a few things. Items or behaviours that have disappeared or changed completely because they've been washed away by the tsunami of the New Ireland. I thought I'd share a few of these with you. Perhaps it will give you a taste of what Ireland once was - of the simplicity that was to be found here.

• Milk Bottles and Un-homogenized Milk - today we go to the store and buy milk in large plastic or paper containers. And like most places it's all homogenized and most of it tastes the same. Back years ago when I came here, milk came to the door in bottles. Bottles were capped by a foil rapper. The milk wasn't homogenized. Instead, you could see the thick cream floating at the top. Shake if you wanted full milk. Skim the cream off if you wanted a treat. My but I miss the stuff.
  
• Open fires - are all but disappearing, replaced in many parts of the country by natural gas central heating. I am lucky to still have a real fire: an amazing Swedish stove that lights up like a rocket when I bother to fill the damned thing. But I still miss: the pungent smell mix of burning coal and wood blocks. The piles of turf that I used to add to it which made an ash as fine as snow. The slack - fine coal - that I'd mix with water and pour on top of the burning fire and which formed a thick cap, allowing the heat to last for hours. The crack and spark of the coal as it warmed the cockles of our hearts.
  
• The Pub / Grocery / Funeral Home - all mixed together like an unexpected smorgasbord. One of these could be found in most towns. Walk in and order a pint. Step a little down the bar and order tinned goods, bread, and maybe thick slices of cold ham. Step even further, and organize an entire funeral - funeral wreaths hung from walls; pamphlets describing the hearse were piled nearby. In such a place, you could eat, drink and die, God bless 'em.
  
• Old Money - we have euro now for our currency, just like much of Europe. But back when I moved over we had good old fashioned Irish Pounds and pence. Also called punts, they came in various colours and sizes to mark the various denominations. Back then, a pound would buy a few packs of cigarettes. Three or four pints. Five or six loaves of bread. God knows how many pints of milk. The coins were thick and solid. They jangled in pockets like miniature marching bands. As most say now, that was REAL money. Just don't ask me about the really old Irish money, before decimalization. It was before my time and thank God for that. I would never have bent my brain around the shillings, crowns, half-crowns, and all the rest.
  
• Fresh Bread - most towns had a local bakery. In Navan, it was Spicers. And the breads that they baked! I can smell the aroma even from the distance of the years. Fat wrapped pans. Brown and soda bread still warm from the ovens. All delivered directly to your door in the electric cart that they used for such purposes, carried by the smiling Spicers Man who would also relieve you of the few pence such items might cost. Today, we buy most of our bread at the grocery store, just like the rest of the world. And frankly, it just doesn't taste quite as good.
  
• Fish and Chips Wrapped in Newspaper - back then they'd wrap the fish and chips in yesterday's front pages. You could munch away and read the news at the same time. And the vinegar they'd splash over the chips somehow mixed with the newsprint for a taste that was out of this world. Today, of course, health and safety legislation has ruled against such practices. 'Tis a shame. I would rather take the risk of indigestion for that salty mix of so long ago.
  
• Zero  Security - we usually didn't lock the front door. No one else did either. We didn't because we didn't have to. Ireland had unusually low crime back then. And no one had much of value to steal. Things have changed of course. Now most people lock up their houses tighter than Fort Knox. They do because they have to.
  
• No Telephone - when I first moved here acquiring a telephone was virtually impossible. Few had them because a) a phone was so expensive (at the time, installation was equal to a month's wages for most people)  b) call costs were crippling and c) it could take almost a year to finally get a phone once the order - and monstrous deposit - was placed. So most people did without them. At the time, and as a young Yank, I was incensed. Me? With no Phone? Unheard of! But today I look back at the absence of a phone and almost delight at it. No calls. No one to bother you with crummy news. In fact, I wonder at the complexity that we have today and sometimes wish for those bygone years: no phones, no cell phones, no smart phones, computers, laptops, PCs, iPads... the world today is connected which is wonderful. But I sometimes wonder if by losing our isolation and time to contemplate, we haven't also lost something of ourselves.

The list, of course, goes on and on. But these are some that come to mind. Ireland continues to be a wonderful place. Certainly, where I now live in Eyeries, County Cork, continues to capture some of the joys of living in this country.

Though we now enjoy the wonders of a modern Ireland, I sometimes find that I miss those things that have passed on. A simplicity that's hard to find anymore. And a joy of living that far surpassed the material goods that most can acquire today.

Yes, that's what I miss most. The simplicity of older Ireland.

(Though I must admit: it's nice not to freeze anymore. It's nice to make a phone call when I want to. But by God, I still miss bottled milk.)

Moving to Dublin? There's Good News and Bad News

Recently I received a post from an American family who are considering a move to Ireland. They referred to an older 2009 post on this Blog that addressed (at least in part) what it's like to move to the Dublin area, where to live, what might be found there, and similar nuggets of wild fact.

Of course I can't find the post. So...I thought I'd address this area again and bring things up to date. And as usual, I have Good News and Bad News. But first...

The Good News: Such a Choice!
Dublin is by far Ireland's largest city. Almost a third of the citizenry now live in Dublin and its general environs. They do so for good reasons: most of the jobs are in the Dublin area. Following extensive investment, Dublin is - in general - a delightful place in which to live with high speed broadband, great access to the rest of the country and abroad via rail, bus, airplane and ferry, a heck of a lot do to - from theatre to museums, the Dublin Zoo to great walks through the Temple Bar area; from outstanding (though somewhat expensive) shopping and fine eateries, and a quick drive to the seashore or south to County Wicklow and its wonderfully extensive parks, waterfalls, and lakes - the area is a draw to both residents and visitors alike.

But if you're considering a move to the Dublin area take a look at the many options:

The City Centre - city living isn't for everyone but if you're determined to live like an Urban King then living in Dublin City Centre could be just your thing. Compared to many capitol cities in the world, Dublin has a rather small footprint, making much of it accessible by foot-power or bike. And you'll always find something fun to do. Take a walk up Grafton Street, the heart of city shopping, and spend your way to penury at the many shops while being comforted by the wild and wonderful buskers that line the street. Visit Bewleys for a cup of tea. Stroll along the Liffey River and people watch: tense business folks marching to their next meeting; young couples arm in arm taking a coffee in sheltered spots along the River making doe-eyes at each other; lawyers running into things with the next case in mind as they make their way to the Law Courts. Take in the National History Museum (it's still free at least for now), or walk up to the Dail - Ireland's seat of government and mad politicians - to express your views.

The Phoenix Park is also within walking distance (though a relatively long walk). As the largest city park in Europe, it is also home to the Irish president, the US Ambassador, and Dublin Zoo (not that I'm saying the president and Ambassador are monkeys - not at all, at all! The president in particular is one nice fella and someone that most are immensely proud of). Got a thirst in your mouth? Then have a cuppa either in the Zoo or at the wonderful Victorian Tea Rooms. And if that doesn't work stroll back into town for a pint at any number of local establishments. Hungry? Then walk into Temple Bar. Years ago when I first moved here the area (located right along the Liffey) was a run-down series of destitute warehouses. Today, it is a walking puzzle containing any number of fine restaurants and shops. But if you're not city-minded (yet still have to live near the city) where else might you consider?

Fortunately, the Dublin Area - including counties Dublin, Wicklow, Meath, and Louth - offer a wide range of options.

County Dublin - where to start? Try the town of Skerries just north of Dublin Airport. Or how about Portmarnack? Or Malahide? Or Howth? All of these communities offer quick access to the coast and many beaches; lovely tidy communities with restaurants and pubs; wonderful people and good schools... what's not to like? Or want to go to the south side of the city? Then why not Dun Laoghrie with its many stores and fine eateries.

Or County Wicklow - to the south of County Dublin is the Garden County named as such for good reason. Even though you may be only miles from the City Centre, you could be visiting an area known for its steep hills, dense forests, and exotic plants. If a visitor, make sure you go to Powerscourt and its waterfall and Glendalough and its outstanding vistas and lakes, and home to a 6th Century monastic 'city'. Want to live in Wicklow? Then try Bray, a delightful little town right on the coast.

Counties Meath and Louth - or perhaps you'd like to go north. These counties offer so very much! Louth, abutting the Irish Sea, has many communities that could be of interest. Drogheda, the county seat, is a larger urban area full of good shopping, restaurants, and right on the sea with good walks and quick access into Dublin. Or perhaps Bettystown, a smaller coastal village with its pretty church backing right up to the water.  And take a look at County Meath. Navan, home to the largest Zinc mine in Europe (or perhaps the world) is a bustling community. I lived there for years. Its shopping centre, local shops, and wide range of pubs and restaurants provides a wide choice. Walk along the River Boyne and take in some fresh air or get a license and throw your cast in for some of Ireland's best salmon fishing. Go 8 miles west and you're in Trim, a handsome smaller town with one of the oldest castles in all of Ireland (Mel Gibson visited when Braveheart was shot there), and take a delightful stroll again along the River Boyne, ending up at some of Ireland's best pubs.

I've only covered a few options above. But explore Ireland for yourself perhaps by Googling county maps, choosing an interesting sounding town name, and researching further. But now for...

The Bad News

Housing - whether renting or purchasing - is becoming increasingly expensive. Let me rephrase that: prices are rocketing skyward, particularly in Dublin and its commuter belt including many of the counties mentioned above. Why? The answer is, in part, simple. First, the country is finally coming out of recession. More jobs mean more money in people's pockets. Which in turn drives the pent-up demand as families who couldn't afford to buy seek to do so. Renting is just as bad: prices for a Dublin city apartment have gone nuts (see www.daft.ie for more information). The other factor is supply: during the recession few new houses and apartments were built. And it's going to take awhile for the construction industry - decimated during the past few years - to regain traction and meet the upward surge in demand.

Only recently, the Central Bank has passed new regulations regarding down payment requirements when purchasing. Prior to the recession, banks were lending purchasers 100 percent mortgages - or more. But it was announced only yesterday that now, first time buyers must come up with 10 percent of the purchase price up to just over 200,000 euro, with a sliding scale in excess of that. Other buyers must come up with 20 percent of the purchase price. Add to that down payment outlays for solicitors, stamp duty, and other costs, and depending on the house price, it's a hefty amount.

These new regulations could result in a number of changes: ever-rising home prices could cool a bit as demand is dampened. Which is good news for those with cash in their wallets who want to buy soon. But bad news of course for those who want to buy and simply can't come up with the bag full of cash they'll need to satisfy the new regulations.

Such is Ireland, as with many other places: good news and bad. But on the whole, the economy is a heck of a lot better than it has been since 2007 and the creeping disaster of recession that hurt so very many. If you're truly consider a move (or visit) to the greater Dublin area my advice is to take your time and hunt wisely.

A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland 2015 Kindle Edition Now Available!
If this blog interests you, then you might want to know more about living and working in Ireland. Are you thinking of traveling to Ireland, moving to Ireland, working in Ireland? Do you want to understand what makes the Irish tick, how you can get a job here, and how to survive in this wonderful country? If so, consider purchasing the 2015 Kindle edition of A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland. Over 11,000 have already done so! Now over 85,000 words long, this book could make the perfect gift for those interested in this wonderful country. Simply click on any of the above links to purchase the new 2015 Kindle edition. You can also download free apps to read the Kindle version on any PC or Mac. 

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. 

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. 

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.