The 'real' Dora

The 'real' DORA

St Patrick's Day 1964 - Dublin

New Ross FCA Pipe Band. St Patrick's Day Parade Dublin 1964.

The Recession that Changed my Life

The Recession that Changed my life!

1973 was a landmark year in my family’s journey. Before redundancy became popular, my husband – who was the main breadwinner – lost his job.

This seemed like a disaster at the time, but we knuckled down and, to my secret joy, we decided that I should look for a temporary job to tide us over.

My temporary job lasted for eight years! Luckily, my dear husband got a job within the first year. Family gathered around to help with three growing boys.

It was the beginning of a very enjoyable career – (more later

Thoughts on a Recession

If there is a difference in the recession we are experiencing, from those we endured in the seventies, eighties, and nineties, it is surely in the scale of the problem. We lived through previous recessions with an eye to that light at the end of the tunnel that would lead us out into the sunshine again. Sadly, history is repeating itself, with a vengence, as we watch the collapse of industry, with our graduates emigrating and unemployment rising.

Not since the 80's, when Charles Haughey told us that we were all 'living beyond our means', have the people been so incensed with anger and frustration at the failure of our leaders to run the country. This time, there is public fury over the fact that we are paying for the sins of the few. Added to that is a sense of outrage that those accountable are still shielded from the rigours of the law, and are actually using the law for protection.

The greatest loss to the country is the destruction of public confidence and respect, what little there was, for politicians. Do they have any idea what they are doing? I don't expect Brian Lenihan to stand up and say he hasn't a bog's notion where it will all end, but a grain of honesty would go a long way. It will be an unenviable task for whomever forms the next gorernment; no doubt we will all take the pills and pay the bills.

The tragedy is the waste of money in the years of the Celtic Tiger - schools and hospitals which should have been put in order were left, or closed down as a solution. The chief of the HSE, Brendan Drumm, constantly said that the problem in the health service wouldn't be improved by 'throwing money at it'; now they say they haven't got any money. So, nobody wins?
(I'm sorry if this seems gloomy, but it's the fourth draft and I just can't lighten it) Cheers!