We've come a long way..........

[Banjo]

Although not in my opinion one of the defining moments of our country, I see the introduction of the Euro as the beginning of an increase in our confidence, we began to realise we are welcome part of the greater world and we began to shed our fear and dominance by our nearest neighbour (all perceived by us not necessarily real). Remember too when we adopted the Euro we gained 20% it was the beginning of the Celtic tiger. Our relationship with Europe is strained at the minute but we are still better regarded than Greece for instance.

A much forgotten event that was significant in a wider scale, is the smoking ban. When you think of it we, a small country, decided to ban smoking and the rest of the world has largely followed us. Not earth shattering but an interesting example of the power of our little country. Another is the accession of the Eastern bloc countries into the EU, negotiated and achieved under Ireland's presidency of the EU, just think lads if that hadn't happened we would be deprived of the some of the finest examples of womanhood who use this site.

There's no doubt that Ireland had to broaden its mind and realise there's a bigger world out there to which it had plenty to contribute. I just feel it did that without proper regard for its own identity.

But yes, the women it borrowed from other nations was definately a positive. But there in itself is a test of the European project .... will the women consider Ireland home or will they just go back to where they came from when life gets better ? Sadly I believe the latter will be what happens, and Ireland goes back to what it was from a quality of women standpoint. I believe the European project is a set of ideals that will only have a defined life span. Once all the rich pickings are consumed and all possible states are in on it, what then ?

[doodlebug]

There's no doubt that Ireland had to broaden its mind and realise there's a bigger world out there to which it had plenty to contribute. I just feel it did that without proper regard for its own identity.

But yes, the women it borrowed from other nations was definately a positive. But there in itself is a test of the European project .... will the women consider Ireland home or will they just go back to where they came from when life gets better ? Sadly I believe the latter will be what happens, and Ireland goes back to what it was from a quality of women standpoint. I believe the European project is a set of ideals that will only have a defined life span. Once all the rich pickings are consumed and all possible states are in on it, what then ?

An interesting observation and one I probably agree with, there is anecdotal evidence of a lot of your Eastern European friends going back to their home countries, however in general they have begun a legacy that can only be good for the country. I think the challenge is to maintain our confidence in a positive way and not revert back to "poor old Ireland". That having been said there are a lot of good things we had before the Celtic Tiger that haven't quite disappeared and are coming back in vogue.

Perhaps the defining moment in Irelands history is the bank bailout of September 2008 when the government decided to implement too wide a bail out and bankrupt us. But hey we got over the Famine, we can get over this too.

[Rayden]

I agree with banjo, I think we are losing irishness and becoming more european. I would like our punts and miles back.

This what makes us Irish?

[warmcome]

i really don't get this thread, Luther, come and fill us in a bit.
this sounds like a thread from 2006-some sort of toast.

Ireland has tried an economic model and welfare system/rate never
attempted anywhere else, we borrow 60 million a day to prop things
up-Ireland has a long way to go!

[luther]

i really don't get this thread, Luther, come and fill us in a bit.

It was just a question.......

But I really find it sad that these are the answers......

Banks, money, Europe, economic...

These are the things that have defined us???

I thought we'd done better.......given more....

My bad........

[Doozer]

Our contribution to the world of science and our scholarly work our myths legends and our way of thinking

[akasomeoneelse]

Tv and radio stations annoy me, they're too American for my liking. The date format really annoys me, instead of the 6th of June they all say June 6th I'm not even going to get into the way everything has been dumbed down and comedys are really pathetic these days. I very rarely watch TV now.