Ireland has ended up with egg on its face. The responsibilities for it, it is said, are collective. As the Celtic Tiger slithered off to its natural home in the East, the hangovers set in and the revellers turned roundly on each other. Everyone blamed the developers, the banks, the government and the teachers. The public sector and the private sector were barely speaking to each other as they compared pension pots, conditions of service and what have you. The banks were at fault for dodgy practices. And Mary Harney still did not sort out the Health Service. Bertie and Bernie of course were at the helm, steering the whole caboosh into a stormy sea. Now it seems the state is becalmed. Ireland is forced to accept a handout and all the agony that goes with that. I was going to say that no-one died. But sadly, some did. Despair took some to the ultimate brink. Surely, there’s nowhere to go now but up again. Surely, this time, as situations improve people’s memories will encourage more use of the brake mechanism. It’s time for the Irish to reclaim their sense of humour and take pleasure in the things that mattered before. The talent, the music, the art and the poetry that was lost at the drunken party. Periods such as these can produce great creativity as people look to their inner resources to sustain them. It’s a great opportunity to bring back the sense of community that gave Ireland its soul. Perhaps history will look back on the Bertie and Bernie show as the lost years. Ireland will bounce back, we always do.
