Celebrating St Patrick's Day
THIS ST Patrick’s Day finds Ireland in need of a boost in optimism and self-confidence. There is good reason to believe this is possible following the last two national days in 2009 and 2010. They inescapably registered pessimism and gloom because of the spectacularly hard and deep landing of the 2002-2008 property bubble. But it has been well said that an optimist is a pessimist with experience of life. St Patrick’s Day comes as spring is under way and provides a fitting opportunity to develop a renewed sense of pride in Irishness after this traumatic period.
A well-argued election campaign has produced a secure Government capable of inspiring hope and a radically changed Dáil with many fresh faces. There is room to think this more constructive political atmosphere can lift the national mood by helping find the best ways to tackle the deep problems we face. Most of these were self-inflicted, but within an interlocking political and economic system in Europe and wider afield which bears some responsibility for stoking the bubble and should therefore share the burden of solving them. Since St Patrick’s Day symbolises Ireland’s international identity just as much as its national one, it is a suitable occasion to drive this point home.