Recent Financial Times Editorial on Irish Economy and the enigma of 9th century Ireland.

A recent FT editorial captures a spot on the Irish economic cycle which has tended to oscillate from exuberance to despair. This duality is not new , in the 9th century a commentator was observing of the dual nature of Ireland simultaneously modern and archaic.

In economic terms, it is hard to credit listening to the Irish media that the country has developed at a staggering rate over the last 60 years. Credit rightfully due to the people of the Island. In the OECD area apart from Singapore and South Korea there are probably no countries which have developed more economically, and achieved a level of educational attainment and health then Ireland. This is while remaining a genuine liberal democratic country with none the autocracy of the east Asian Tigers and with the enormous economic burden of 30 years of the Troubles.