Will the global downturn put our tiger to sleep?

Plunging stocks, panicked banks and the US in crisis have helped replace the imagery of Celtic Tigers with the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. But is the hype been driven by merchants of misery or genuine economic trends? Conor Ryan investigates.

A looming US slowdown?

IN the strictest terms a recession happens when there is negative growth for six months running.