Mary McAleese: We are ‘sorely tested’ at present.

PRESIDENT Mary McAleese said Ireland is being “sorely tested” by the colossal failure of the culture of short-term gain and quick profiteering.

Delivering her St Patrick’s Day message, Ms McAleese said some people had been seduced by the “quick euro”.

But it was others, she said, the vast majority of people who were generous who would get Ireland out of the mess.