Take advantage of crisis to bring about change

Anybody returning to Ireland after a period away must feel a little confused.

On the one hand the papers abound with the perilous state of our economy, the numbers unemployed and the growing mortgage crisis, never mind the potential explosion that is the euro.

On the other hand, when they arrive here things do not seem to be quite as bad as they are portrayed. The many restaurants that are still open seem to be busy and while there are deals to be had, prices are generally still disproportionate to the quality provided and service offered. It’s a paradox that some still believe that prices that prevailed four and five years ago are still attainable.