Being Irish in 2011 - Standing in front of a blank page

TOMORROW millions will tip their hat at the idea of being Irish. Many, many more brave souls, knowing a good party when they see one, will sing the Rose of Tralee as loudly and as off-key as any of us.

A national holiday is as good a moment as any to pause to try to work out what sort of a place Ireland is today; what sort of a people we’ve become and, just maybe, what sort of a society we might become.

We’ve all been through a traumatic few years. Businesses and jobs have been lost, incomes have been slashed, investments evaporated and taxes increased. That great national taboo eviction — or repossession as it is now called — has become, if not commonplace, so very regular as not to merit special attention.