Some Thoughts on Revival of The Irish Economy In the normal course of economic events, property sector growth is driven by the growth of the general economy. This course of events can by influenced by certain external and sometimes artificial policy and political events. They are further influenced by demographics and inward migration. However, when the property market becomes disconnected from general economic trends a property bubble results. Overall economic growth, especially in a small economy like Ireland, is a difficult for the Irish government to manage, as most of the economic influencers that impact the Irish economy are generated outside of Ireland, in the USA, in the EU and by other global influencers. On the other hand, Irish government policy alone can influence the property market. Changes in tax policy, banking policy, interest rates, land regulation, formal and informal subsidies etc. can provide incentives to de
Some Thoughts About "Home" In a world of voluntary and involuntary mobility, home is an illusive concept. Is it a birthplace, a place of domicile, a residence, a cultural place, a place where one intends to be buried? Having lived for many years in Ireland, and having deep and ancient familial roots there, I must say that is something about Ireland as a land and place that is attractive endearing. My family, comes from two diametrically opposed sides of Ireland. My Breckenridge/Preston/Stewart/Forbes ancestors (the ones hanging on the wall) were all of the protestant ascendancy, and ironically were, for a time, instrumental in the attempted destruction of the other side of my family-which were at the core of the old Irish order. In the end, they both either died in the ensuing wars, or were forced to flee, on the one side to Holland and America, on the other to France and America. I would be proud to hang portraits of the O’Neills on my walls to, but there aren't m