Dearest Lucy, as someone who has, on average driven 60,000 miles on Irish roads PER YEAR I can say with some authority that generally Irish roads are in good nick and better than they have ever been - with the exception of the few that were fucked last winter.
You will remember on our last meeting you asked how my lower back was so bad ...... lots of driving on Irish roads from the mid seventies to the current day!
Buy a proper car!