Costly football lesson for Ireland

Never before have we seen such hysteria at the beginning of a sporting competition as we did recently at the Euros.

It is remarkable that despite the recession people have so much to spend on match tickets, plane fares, and bunting, all for the sake of a match.

Incredibly, we also hear of people taking out loans to go to these matches, such is the wild hysteria taking over a country that is perhaps trying desperately to forget about its many problems, which include emigration and unemployment. All the uproar about the water charges and austerity seems to have vanished into thin air as fans part with thousands to watch a game. You would be forgiven for thinking that all anybody wanted to do in this country is to go to the pub and watch the match.