How do you rate Ireland? (57)
Yes ,I agree.Also a lot good palces...maybe not everything is perfect(like public medical care for example or roads or public transport)but...in this rating isn't any positive sentence to mark.you should change it a little
I agree with Losty on a lot of this.
This country has its good and bad points like any other. My English friend cannot look at the news without hating everything that England has become.
So, it is never going to be perfect.
Saying all that, we have a stable wealthy country here. A country that many of our neighbours would like to have some parts of. We don't (as far as I'm aware!) have a problem with extremists, and we don't have a huge demographic problem coming down the tracks in a short time frame.
We can take the positives and use them to our advantage.
And to those that say thay our prosperity is based on just tax or location...I have to say that I have been in the room when an Irish person has stood up and spoken to executives (from the US or Europe) and the reception has been wonderful. We are underselling ourselves if we believe that it is all smoke and mirrors. It is a combination of all of what makes this country great.
However, we are also deluding ourselves if we believe that it will all be right just because we are Irish.
Just my tuppence worth!..
This country has its good and bad points like any other. My English friend cannot look at the news without hating everything that England has become.
So, it is never going to be perfect.
Saying all that, we have a stable wealthy country here. A country that many of our neighbours would like to have some parts of. We don't (as far as I'm aware!) have a problem with extremists, and we don't have a huge demographic problem coming down the tracks in a short time frame.
We can take the positives and use them to our advantage.
And to those that say thay our prosperity is based on just tax or location...I have to say that I have been in the room when an Irish person has stood up and spoken to executives (from the US or Europe) and the reception has been wonderful. We are underselling ourselves if we believe that it is all smoke and mirrors. It is a combination of all of what makes this country great.
However, we are also deluding ourselves if we believe that it will all be right just because we are Irish.
Just my tuppence worth!..
The poll for what it's worth indicates that 30% don't care so I would imagine that the same 30% do not vote either.
So ignoring those that don't care it certainly seems that a clear majority of people are dissatisfied with Ireland today. No surprise there.
A friend of mine recently showed me a Flash memory key they had purchased in a high street shop in Munich. It cost €25 for a 8GB Key. I had bought a 2 GB here and it cost me €40. The difference did not end there. It had a retractable cover, sleeker design and to cap it all It is way faster.
In a nutshell the difference was The german equivelant was almost half the price, four times the size, twice the speed and a beautiful design.
I have worked as a professional Buyer in this country and of recent have been shocked as to how this pattern extends to just about everything.
I am using this small item as an example of an overall price structure that exists here. I could get a better deal if I had the time to spend hours trawling the internet but at times do not have that time.
I reckon that the Germans will not put up with being ripped off like we do. They will and do complain loudly about what they do not like in their country.
Is it possible that we are way too quiet about the obvious shortfalls in this country?
So ignoring those that don't care it certainly seems that a clear majority of people are dissatisfied with Ireland today. No surprise there.
A friend of mine recently showed me a Flash memory key they had purchased in a high street shop in Munich. It cost €25 for a 8GB Key. I had bought a 2 GB here and it cost me €40. The difference did not end there. It had a retractable cover, sleeker design and to cap it all It is way faster.
In a nutshell the difference was The german equivelant was almost half the price, four times the size, twice the speed and a beautiful design.
I have worked as a professional Buyer in this country and of recent have been shocked as to how this pattern extends to just about everything.
I am using this small item as an example of an overall price structure that exists here. I could get a better deal if I had the time to spend hours trawling the internet but at times do not have that time.
I reckon that the Germans will not put up with being ripped off like we do. They will and do complain loudly about what they do not like in their country.
Is it possible that we are way too quiet about the obvious shortfalls in this country?
You hit the nail on the head there Patrick.
There are many examples of this. Bertie is one. Absolutely nothing special about Bertie apart from the fact that he managed to wear bright suits when meeting other world leaders and stand out a bit more! FF may have chaperoned the economic success of Ireland but it was the governments of the 80's that put in place the framework which created it. But his popularity kept soaring and soaring even when revelations about his finances came out.
Smoking ban is another example. How many of us are smokers? Right we all realise they're unhealthy and in retrospect it is a pretty good thing but it's another one that we all took lying down. They tried to bring in a smoking ban in Croatia some years back and it didn;t work basically because the Croatians just ignored it. Obviously they can't go around fining every establishment so in the end they had to scrap the law. I'm not saying that we should reintroduce smoking in pubs but rather highlighting the fact that we just accepted it.
And so far, I hear not a word of protest about the new alcohol laws coming into effect. WTF???? Lets just look at other European countries which have much more relaxed laws than us and yet much less alcohol related problems than we do. Do we, the people of Ireland, as intelligent people really believe that what we need are more laws in this area? A tightening of the already stupid restrictions in place? One of the new laws is that special offers on beer will no longer be allowed. Bye-Bye cheap Miller. There really is something wrong with us.
There are many examples of this. Bertie is one. Absolutely nothing special about Bertie apart from the fact that he managed to wear bright suits when meeting other world leaders and stand out a bit more! FF may have chaperoned the economic success of Ireland but it was the governments of the 80's that put in place the framework which created it. But his popularity kept soaring and soaring even when revelations about his finances came out.
Smoking ban is another example. How many of us are smokers? Right we all realise they're unhealthy and in retrospect it is a pretty good thing but it's another one that we all took lying down. They tried to bring in a smoking ban in Croatia some years back and it didn;t work basically because the Croatians just ignored it. Obviously they can't go around fining every establishment so in the end they had to scrap the law. I'm not saying that we should reintroduce smoking in pubs but rather highlighting the fact that we just accepted it.
And so far, I hear not a word of protest about the new alcohol laws coming into effect. WTF???? Lets just look at other European countries which have much more relaxed laws than us and yet much less alcohol related problems than we do. Do we, the people of Ireland, as intelligent people really believe that what we need are more laws in this area? A tightening of the already stupid restrictions in place? One of the new laws is that special offers on beer will no longer be allowed. Bye-Bye cheap Miller. There really is something wrong with us.
RenegadeJohnson1: And only an Irish government could redevelop a stadium (landsdowne road) and make it smaller than it actually was!!
For a journalism graduate and a rugby fan as you claim to be on your profile, you got this one horribly wrong on all accounts.
oops! i was on a bit of a rant, haha... but the area they're redeveloping where spectators previously had to stand will now be all seated, in turn leaving a smaller capacity?? 
Im confused... ah well, as long as we have a decent 6 nations I wont mind! 
Im confused... ah well, as long as we have a decent 6 nations I wont mind! 
RenegadeJohnson1: oops! i was on a bit of a rant, haha... but the area they're redeveloping where spectators previously had to stand will now be all seated, in turn leaving a smaller capacity?? Im confused... ah well, as long as we have a decent 6 nations I wont mind!
Try living in the UK, you'll be glad you don't and that's from an English citizen...
Not that my opinion matters but i give it anyway, i have visited ireland but for four days, backpacking and bussing it, training it, running it, and her sites are something you cannot put into words, beholding is the best one word description for me. I have listened to what people have to say, i was wrong in my thinking when i came back, you see i thought she was doing fine, but comming from someone in a country where the american dollar is almost worthless there, england, hell even here it is paling, i thought irelands economy strong, perception.My online friends from there tell me the the construction is fixing to bottom out, unemployment is higher than ever, and there is more i will not put into text but the point is i thought she strong, are they wrong in telling me this? I worry she will not get back on her own feet
Well I think there is a change going on in Ireland right now (whats new?)
The results of the referendum showed an Irish people with the confidence to stand on their own two feet and make decisions with far reaching influences.
A people who are beginning to take back their birthright, as an independent and free-thinking community, that will decide their own future, and would rather live with decisions that they have made themselves, than listen to an out of touch Government only interested in it's own agendas, and as we have seen too many times, lining their own pockets!
Enough I say! there have been countries that chose to stay out of the original EEC and they are not on their knees at all.
Europe is good, The EU is good, and good to those countries that do not choose to be part of it. Is that not what The EU set itself out to be when it started out in the first place!
We can be our own people (we always have been) and stay outside of Europe. We can retain our neutrality, our tax free status for International corporations.
Why do you think Microsoft are here, or Macintosh or Intel or google, and the list goes on, they are here 'cos the weather is so good, kidding! No they are not, they are only here because we offer them a trained and suss workforce and a big tax break. This will not change now.
I think that the Irish people were always capable of thinking outside the box and well capable of surviving outside any clique that comes along. I love Europe, and all it represents but I am quite capable of representing myself!
As are the rest of Ye.............
The results of the referendum showed an Irish people with the confidence to stand on their own two feet and make decisions with far reaching influences.
A people who are beginning to take back their birthright, as an independent and free-thinking community, that will decide their own future, and would rather live with decisions that they have made themselves, than listen to an out of touch Government only interested in it's own agendas, and as we have seen too many times, lining their own pockets!
Enough I say! there have been countries that chose to stay out of the original EEC and they are not on their knees at all.
Europe is good, The EU is good, and good to those countries that do not choose to be part of it. Is that not what The EU set itself out to be when it started out in the first place!
We can be our own people (we always have been) and stay outside of Europe. We can retain our neutrality, our tax free status for International corporations.
Why do you think Microsoft are here, or Macintosh or Intel or google, and the list goes on, they are here 'cos the weather is so good, kidding! No they are not, they are only here because we offer them a trained and suss workforce and a big tax break. This will not change now.
I think that the Irish people were always capable of thinking outside the box and well capable of surviving outside any clique that comes along. I love Europe, and all it represents but I am quite capable of representing myself!
As are the rest of Ye.............
PatrickT, i believe you should run for office
I love Ireland. I love being Irish. Of all the country's I have been too, it is still THE best in the whole world to me.
I know we F*&^ up and I know the government do the same as does the HSE etc etc................
But in my opinion, there is no greater natural beauty than Ireland and it's people are only BRILL!
I am grateful that I am Irish!
Life and soul are seen in Irish eyes...................
Man ya can't beat that!
Minx!
I know we F*&^ up and I know the government do the same as does the HSE etc etc................
But in my opinion, there is no greater natural beauty than Ireland and it's people are only BRILL!
I am grateful that I am Irish!
Life and soul are seen in Irish eyes...................
Man ya can't beat that!
Minx!
Irishminx: I love Ireland. I love being Irish. Of all the country's I have been too, it is still THE best in the whole world to me.
I know we F*&^ up and I know the government do the same as does the HSE etc etc................
But in my opinion, there is no greater natural beauty than Ireland and it's people are only BRILL!
I am grateful that I am Irish!
Life and soul are seen in Irish eyes...................
Man ya can't beat that!
Minx!
I know we F*&^ up and I know the government do the same as does the HSE etc etc................
But in my opinion, there is no greater natural beauty than Ireland and it's people are only BRILL!
I am grateful that I am Irish!
Life and soul are seen in Irish eyes...................
Man ya can't beat that!
Minx!
The greatest resource we have are the people. I felt a great sense of pride in us Irish when the Lisbon Treaty was rejected. We proved to the World that we are a nation of thinkers and we have the confidence to walk un-treaded paths alone. I am proud of the Irish
patrickthomas: The greatest resource we have are the people. I felt a great sense of pride in us Irish when the Lisbon Treaty was rejected. We proved to the World that we are a nation of thinkers and we have the confidence to walk un-treaded paths alone. I am proud of the Irish
Come on PT. A huge amount of the people who voted were influenced by advertising. A lot of people I know voted no. Most of them voted no for the wrong reason.
Whether it be neutrality or taxation (which every state had a veto on) or moving area's of power to Brussels which they already had! There were some people who voted no because they didn't know enough about the treaty and that's fair enough.
But basically the main reason the no vote went through was because the no campaign were out advertising from the get-go. I guarantee you that the next time, the yes campaign will have a stronger marketing strategy and then we'll see a yes vote. That's not just Irish people. The world over people are influenced by advertising.
JohnnyT: Come on PT. A huge amount of the people who voted were influenced by advertising. A lot of people I know voted no. Most of them voted no for the wrong reason.
Whether it be neutrality or taxation (which every state had a veto on) or moving area's of power to Brussels which they already had! There were some people who voted no because they didn't know enough about the treaty and that's fair enough.
But basically the main reason the no vote went through was because the no campaign were out advertising from the get-go. I guarantee you that the next time, the yes campaign will have a stronger marketing strategy and then we'll see a yes vote. That's not just Irish people. The world over people are influenced by advertising.
Whether it be neutrality or taxation (which every state had a veto on) or moving area's of power to Brussels which they already had! There were some people who voted no because they didn't know enough about the treaty and that's fair enough.
But basically the main reason the no vote went through was because the no campaign were out advertising from the get-go. I guarantee you that the next time, the yes campaign will have a stronger marketing strategy and then we'll see a yes vote. That's not just Irish people. The world over people are influenced by advertising.
Good post, It is a difficult one to call and this was the subject of another related thread here where there was a very good suggestion to put up a poll to see why people voted No
I considered putting one up but the polls here are notoriously in-accurate, I am reading the Sunday newspapers hoping to find a reliable poll to indicate why people voted No.
I will come back to you on this John when I have more Imfo. soon!
patrickthomas: Good post, It is a difficult one to call and this was the subject of another related thread here where there was a very good suggestion to put up a poll to see why people voted No
I considered putting one up but the polls here are notoriously in-accurate, I am reading the Sunday newspapers hoping to find a reliable poll to indicate why people voted No.
I will come back to you on this John when I have more Imfo. soon!
I considered putting one up but the polls here are notoriously in-accurate, I am reading the Sunday newspapers hoping to find a reliable poll to indicate why people voted No.
I will come back to you on this John when I have more Imfo. soon!
may i suggest? when i made my poll it gave me the option of not allowing somebody to vote if they were not logged in which keeps out the ones that aren't, would this help to narrow it down?
You should all try living and working in the UK....sheer hell and I should know
phantomsmiler: You should all try living and working in the UK....sheer hell and I should know
I live and work in the UK...and I do not agree with you....I have a good job, nice home, good Scottish friends, decent standard of living, fairly good education and healthcare systems and a decent environment in which to raise my kids......
Ive lived in many places and travelled about a bit ................. and Ireland will always be home and where the heart and hearth is.......... Its amazing how if u look at the big picture it gets over burdening ( is there such a word) but to me its really the small things that matter..................... peoples kindness, helpful ness, Its like when ur doin a jig- saw and a small area comes together and makes a picture of its own ........................ and when u complete the jig-saw and there are a whole lot of little pictures within it ........... but they make up a big picture too.
Thats how Ireland is every town............ village ................... street u encounter people who are positve u see small acts of kindness ............... u see the little country lane eventually meets a motor way etc etc but each large or little village or town and place has its own contribution to make and day to day lives go on there. To some extent the big picture doesnt hugely impact on these places....................... and if it does they all pull together to help out and try and sort it. I think they call it COMMUNITY. THAT IS THE HEART OF LIFE IN IRELAND.............. and it is what distinguishes us from many other countries................. and it is there we should focus our energies .................. Ireland is a great place ..............................
Small is beautiful if it gets to big it becomes unmanageable ................... and militates against the ripple effect which is the most powerful way to evoke change.............. it usually comes from the bottom up
FOR IRELAND
A
Thats how Ireland is every town............ village ................... street u encounter people who are positve u see small acts of kindness ............... u see the little country lane eventually meets a motor way etc etc but each large or little village or town and place has its own contribution to make and day to day lives go on there. To some extent the big picture doesnt hugely impact on these places....................... and if it does they all pull together to help out and try and sort it. I think they call it COMMUNITY. THAT IS THE HEART OF LIFE IN IRELAND.............. and it is what distinguishes us from many other countries................. and it is there we should focus our energies .................. Ireland is a great place ..............................
Small is beautiful if it gets to big it becomes unmanageable ................... and militates against the ripple effect which is the most powerful way to evoke change.............. it usually comes from the bottom up
FOR IRELAND A
IRELAND ........ 
irishlass45: may i suggest? when i made my poll it gave me the option of not allowing somebody to vote if they were not logged in which keeps out the ones that aren't, would this help to narrow it down?
Thank you irishlass, I did not notice this feature, that's certainly food for thought! I do have another question now for you, when you look at CS do you get the same choices of forums as we do here or are they different?
Here is is:
International
Canada
Australia-NZ
EU
UK
Ireland
patrickthomas: Thank you irishlass, I did not notice this feature, that's certainly food for thought! I do have another question now for you, when you look at CS do you get the same choices of forums as we do here or are they different?
Here is is:
International
Canada
Australia-NZ
EU
UK
Ireland
Here is is:
International
Canada
Australia-NZ
EU
UK
Ireland
you are welcome, yes the same choices, when i made my poll to the left at the bottom of the page is a yes or no feature, under it is details of how to keep people out that are not logged on for voting in a more accurate way, but you would still have to have people being honest, and i really don't see a lot of lying going on in here, that is why i come here more, ya'll.
sorry patrickT it comes up like this
* International
* Texas
* USA
* Canada
* Australia/NZ
* EU
* UK
* Ireland
sorry about that
* International
* Texas
* USA
* Canada
* Australia/NZ
* EU
* UK
* Ireland
sorry about that
Thanks irishlass I was curious about that
patrickthomas: Thanks irishlass I was curious about that
a big welcome to you, and good luck, will be watching, i keep my mouth shut because i don't live there but does not mean i am not concerned for her, trust that.
irishlass45: a big welcome to you, and good luck, will be watching, i keep my mouth shut because i don't live there but does not mean i am not concerned for her, trust that.
We live in ever-changing and increasingly complex times, all of us, everywhere. The Influence of our bigger and more powerful neighbours on either side has been a mixture of both good and bad. There is a term used here often to explain our position. "are we closer to Boston or Berlin?" It seems right now that as a country we have taken a stance and said "neither, we are Irish"
I care about this Country too, Its people are the Country, and now more than ever I care about the next generation that inherit our mistakes and successes.
patrickthomas: We live in ever-changing and increasingly complex times, all of us, everywhere. The Influence of our bigger and more powerful neighbours on either side has been a mixture of both good and bad. There is a term used here often to explain our position. "are we closer to Boston or Berlin?" It seems right now that as a country we have taken a stance and said "neither, we are Irish"
I care about this Country too, Its people are the Country, and now more than ever I care about the next generation that inherit our mistakes and successes.
I care about this Country too, Its people are the Country, and now more than ever I care about the next generation that inherit our mistakes and successes.
Anyone with eyes can see this, cheers to you sir
keep rolling on
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You speak of corruption but it has nothing to do with most of our issues. Nobody knew in 1990 Ireland that the M 50 would carry 4 times what it carries, nobody knew that we would have full employment and that our tax take would double in 4 years as it has done. Nobody expected the population to grow as it as done; over 500,000 since the early 1990's or by one seventh. Of course the infrastructure is going to be strained; it was build to a budget and expectation when it was ample for it's needs. Today, we are playing catch up. We have not had money to do what we need until the last few years and at that, it is having to fit in while keeping pace. Much of continental Europe has had cash and space to work with since year dot; we have not so give it a little time.