Irish bloody trains

[Mousey]

Ireland, like most Third World countries seeking to upgrade its infrastructure, has ploughed gazillions of euros into upgrading its roads first, hence all our shiney new motorways (sans motorway rest areas). The rail network is waaaaaayyyy down the list.

Iarnród Éireann (we're not there yet, but we're getting there) also sell first class tickets for non-existent first class carraiges, have a train fleet that's around fifty years old, have a network of railways over much of the country that they don't use, and are generally a pack of wasters and morons.

To answer your other question, old people talk so much because they want to impart the wisdom of their years of experiences. I recommend an iPod - most people leave you alone when they see plus with wires sticking out of your ears