The first of what it is hoped will be many thousands of Irish punts were exchanged at the Central Bank in Dublin yesterday.

Shopkeepers in a border town are offering to trade in the near obsolete punt to try and turn the clock back on the recession and euro currency crisis.

The Irish punt is being accepted in 42 shops in a border town as payment for goods alongside the euro and sterling, in the first move of its kind by a town in this country.

The Irish punt is being accepted in 42 shops in a border town as payment for goods alongside the euro and sterling, in the first move of its kind by a town in this country.