Central Bank takes punt on currency initiative

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

The money was dusted down and taken from bottom drawers around the country and then spent in Clones, Co Monaghan, which has become the first town to accept the punt as payment for goods.

Two weeks ago, 43 businesses joined the “Embrace the Punt” campaign, and the initiative has begun to pay off.