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‘Because the tribe is in trouble’: Memorable words from Martin Naughton

At a meeting in Dublin Castle during the financial crisis, Naughton’s response to a loud American summed up why we were all there

Letters to the Editor. Illustration: Paul Scott
Fri Jul 10 2026 - 06:00 • 1 MIN READ

Sir, – At Dublin Castle, during the nadir of our fortunes following the financial crisis, the government assembled business luminaries mainly from the diaspora.

At a breakout session that I chaired, a loud American gentleman intervened: “Before we start can someone tell me why are we here?”

Before I could respond, Martin Naughton replied in his unmistakable Dundalk accent: “Because the tribe is in trouble.” That about summed it up.

– Yours, etc,

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