Domestic lifestyle - Irish male sweeps up top spot

THE Irish male is a much-maligned personage, judging by illuminating research from the European Commission.

Contrary to his image as a pint-swilling, beer-bellied, rather feckless example of the species, the Irish male spends more time hoovering, washing dishes, dusting, ironing, sewing, and cooking than his European counterpart.

Believe it or not, the average Irishman, along with his English counterpart, turns out to be the most house-proud of all European males.

And yet, even though he spends seven hours sweeping and dusting every week, we are told that the Irish housewife is so obsessed with tidiness that she spends a whopping 17 hours a week cleaning the home.

But forget the progressive Danes, Finns, Dutch and Swedes. When it comes to zeal for housework, they’re outclassed by that paragon of domesticity, Seán Citizen.

Who said Brussels was out of touch?