Irish 'most optimistic' of surveyed countries

Irish people rate themselves among the most fulfilled and optimistic in the world, according to a new global survey.

Despite the fallout of the recession, the Gallup global wellbeing survey for 2010 ranks Ireland 10th in the world among those citizens who regard themselves as thriving.

The result of the Gallup Global Wellbeing survey is a surprise as recriminations since the collapse of the Celtic Tiger continue.

Nearly two thirds of Irish people rate themselves as thriving, more than one third struggling, but only 1% say they are suffering.

The Irish survey took place in May and June last year before the EU-IMF bailout and the tax changes that came into force in the January budget.

Nevertheless, we're still happier than our Euro neighbours....

In booming Germany, just 44% of people rated themselves as thriving, slightly ahead of France at 42%.

Ireland is also ahead of the US and the United Kingdom , which had similar boom-and-bust housing markets.