Country for Sale

I spotted this house at a crossroads in a place called Legga in Co Longford. Around the corner from this house a development of new houses lay derelict. Sadly this is an all too familiar a story. Everything is for sale.

Once upon a time in Ireland we dreamed big. In our dreams there seemed to be endless opportunities. Everyone was a millionaire, on paper anyway. While we slept, seriously greedy bankers, dodgy development deals with little or no regulation brought us to our knees. We all took part, but it was only a dream.

The population are now shackled with property that is now at least 50% less than the original purchase price. This is our legacy to our future generations. Debt!

We are showing the world that we are willing to bite the bullet. Savage cuts, massive reform and spending slashed. No demonstrations, no innocent deaths, no defaulting, just heads down and a deep breath.

And yet the international financiers decide that our soverign loans now come with crucifying interest repayments. Interest repayments far higher than our European neighbours, condemning us to a very bleak future. We are being hammered for trying to undo the greatest mess in our history.

Why are we so accepting, would we have received a lower rate if we stormed government buildings or ran thousands of sheep up O'Connell Street? Better still, what if we had taken the Icelandic approach?

This is what 800 years of colonisation have done to a proud people? We take it and mutter to ourselves. A new economic colonisation of Ireland has begun.

And yet I looked at this home and see hope. This little island has been on the ropes before. We will get through this. We are strong.