‘We lost our spirit and our way’

Ireland might have avoided the economic collapse if it had retained some of the cultural and political spirit that infused the fight for independence, President Michael D Higgins has suggested.

Instead, the country lost connection with that spirit and was devoid of an “ethical brake” when the Celtic Tiger arrived.

Mr Higgins was delivering a keynote address at the London School of Economics last night during his first official overseas visit as President.