Small is beautiful and we may be better off more or less as we are

But taking pride in the sheer size of your country is increasingly anachronistic.

While no one likes to think people are fleeing their own country, an increase in Ireland’s population by more than 50% in the next half-century might be more of a threat than an opportunity

SOME of Eamon de Valera’s ideas were better than others. He might have spectacularly failed in his efforts to increase the Irish population but it was a noble endeavour. Leaving aside whether six would ever go into 26, Dev understood that in the 20th century bigger meant better.