‘Celtic Comeback’ or same old failures for Ireland and Enda Kenny? -- Time cover story and Irish Times lead columnist strongly disagree

Enda Kenny on the cover of Time

Landing the cover of the European edition of Time magazine this week is a landmark achievement by Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny.

But more importantly, Time magazine’s imprimatur for the “Celtic Comeback” as it headlined the piece, is a powerful weapon for Kenny to swipe his critics with.

Like most Time cover stories it is a fluff piece on the Irish leader who comes across as pleasant and incisive about what he has to do.

“I see returns in the signs of confidence,” Kenny said.

“People tell me their own stories, about how they have come through great difficulty. But now they have a new sense of values and they see new horizons opening up.”
Kenny described the Celtic Tiger boom as false years that were “built on the veneer of endless wealth without hard work.”

The Time piece will help Kenny battle those critics who have been growing in numbers in recent months as emigration spiked and bad times continued.

He is heading into a ball-buster of a budget in December which will hit the middle class very hard indeed.

They are already beleaguered and increasingly hostile.

Now comes a new cloud on the horizon in the context of alleged political corruption

Last week there were strident calls for the resignation of Health Minister James Reilly, after news of alleged sweetheart deals for a property tycoon in his constituency surfaced. There was also outrage after another Minister Phil Hogan was alleged to have blocked a Traveller family from getting a house in a development in his constituency

That is poisonous stuff given Ireland’s recent history and led to an extraordinary attack by FIntan O’Toole, Ireland’s leading columnist, who writes for the Irish Times on the ethics of Kenny’s government.

O’Toole claimed Fine Gael had taken on the same wide boy and coercive politics that their hated predecessors Fianna Fail had.
He wrote:

“For Fine Gael, the formula makes complete sense. It has replaced Fianna Fáil as the chief operator of The Machine, the system of clientelist politics that has held power since the 19th century. It can stay in office for a very long time by becoming as adept and unashamed in its manipulation of the levers of power as the party it looked on for so long with all the envy of a shy, spotty youth watching the slick rogue getting all the girls. The jilted lad would console himself by raging that the rogue was a bad character. But secretly he dreamed of being the rogue himself.

“And now he is. Fine Gael has been given control of The Machine and is testing out what it can do. Oooh, look, says James Reilly, pull this handle and it can deliver primary care centers for me and my buddies! That’s nothing, says Phil Hogan, if you pull this switch, you can stop Traveller families moving in to a housing estate in your constituency. Feck your civic democracy, I’ve a Merc outside.”

Kenny can at least point to international opinion that he doing the right thing. Suffice to say that like many leaders, (see Tony Blair) Enda Kenny is probably appreciated more outside his country as the Time cover shows than  he is inside it.

Which version is correct, the Time magazine praise or Fintan O’Toole’s hard-hitting critique?

That will play out in the months and years ahead.

Money from immigrants to be a key part of Irish recovery? -- Back to the sad 1950s for Irish economy if this keeps up

Photo Credit: DAVID MONAHAN

Is Ireland heading back to the days when money from emigrants abroad was a mainstay of the economy?

A recent report by a leading hedge fund in Britain stated it was highly likely that emigrant remittances would play an increasing role in the Irish economy.

We have all heard tales of the 1940s and 50s when money from emigrants in Britain and America kept many an Irish family going through very hard times.

Former Irish Times writer John Healy wrote very movingly about his aunt in Brooklyn who kept his family in rural Mayo going.

He had always imagined she lived in finery in America, but when he eventually visited her it was in a fourth floor walk up in a dingy building. She had sacrificed everything to keep them all together back in Ireland.

She had never married, had kept down two jobs and scraped and saved to see her relatives in Ireland better off.

That was not an unusual story.

When I lived in England during the mid 70s, the final stops at the weekend were always the same for many in my construction crew.

Read More: Irish economy to become dependent on emigrant funds by 2020, expert warns

There was the pub on Friday night and the post office on Saturday morning to send money home to the folks. Despite the fact that many were living in abject conditions themselves and saving little, the money home was always a sacred duty.

Many a rural town and village depended on those remittances in the form of money orders and it is so strange to see them being talked about again

The emigrant parcel was a lifesaver in many homes, especially from America. As the emigrant trails have started up again there will be many households back home, especially where the breadwinner has left, awaiting those funds again.

They won’t come via post office money order I'm guessing but by wire and bank transfer.

Soon the technology will exist where funds can be transferred by cell phone - thanks to Irish businessman Denis O'Brien who has created just such a system for Haitians for which he was praised in a Time Magazine cover story by Bill Clinton.

Leave it to an Irishman to come up with way for emigrant remittances to be conveyed at speed back to the family back home.

The hedge fund expert in Britain stated: "Having not depended on remittances for many decades, Ireland, like Portugal, will come to rely on these once more.”

 Plus ça change, you might say.

Ireland has never seen anything like this Notre Dame invasion -- Dublin goes green as Fighting Irish fans feel right at home

Preparation of the Notre Dame pep rally in St. Stephen's Green

Live coverage of the game here on IrishCentral

Dublin: In the 125-year history of the Fighting Irish football team there has never been a weekend like this.

Four thousand miles from South Bend, 35,000 Irish have transplanted themselves in the heart of Dublin and indeed, all over Ireland, charming the locals wherever they go.

Walk along Dublin’s main shopping thoroughfare, Grafton Street, today and it seemed like a green invasion had begun.

In every store Notre Dame supporters and some Navy backers too, were thronging the aisles, looking for Irish bargains.

Outside the street performers were surrounded by Irish followers, and doing a roaring trade.

For many of the women shoppers, hurrying from one high-end store to another, this was their game day.

“I’m surprised I thought things would be cheaper,” Jane Byrne from Minnesota told me

”It’s easily as expensive – but it is far more fun,” she said.

All around her less discriminating fellow shoppers were buying up items like Guinness sweaters and Aran cardigans in all the usual haunts.

“It is busier than St Patrick’s week,” said the shop assistant in one.

It was the same story all over the country as the hordes of invading Americans, 35,000 in total, gave Ireland the kind of end of summer boost they could ever have hoped for.

Paddy Powers bookmakers opposite the Merrion hotel has been getting brisk business but not from the usual clients this week.

Americans are dropping in every few minutes the clerk said betting on their team to win in the Navy v Notre Dame game.

While I was there a Navy couple came in, seeking odds on Navy plus 15 points -- they got even money.
It is not news that bookmakers are winning but the Irish economy is getting a powerful boost too.

Earlier today I attended a reception at the American Ambassador’s residence in the Phoenix Park. Out in his garden Dan Rooney, the former owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, had his own football pitch where on July 4th every year there is a flag football game.

Prime Minister Enda Kenny dropped in to the pep rally at the O2 arena. 10,000 Notre Dame fans had crammed the arena and gave him a massive reception.

He called it the biggest overseas mobilization by any sporting team in American history.

Notre Dame Athletic Director Jack Swarbrigg mentioned that Notre Dame has sold out every home game since 1964.

Over 300 performers were onstage between Irish and American musicians and band numbers for a finale that will not be forgotten.

A weekend to remember!

Wow!

Live coverage of the game here on IrishCentral 

American Ireland Fund considers new strategies to aid recovery

American Ireland Fund CEO Kieran McLoughlin

As the American Ireland Fund approaches the half billion dollars mark in total money raised, it is also re-examining its role in light of the growing crisis in Ireland.

Proposals put forward by CEO Kieran McLoughlin and Chairman Loretta Brennan Glucksman at their annual conference in Cork would mean major changes for an organization that has come to define the best in the Irish Diaspora.

McLoughlin briefed delegates on a new strategy that would see the Fund adding philanthropic programs to exiting portfolio of grants to small businesses starting up in Ireland in an attempt to stimulate economic activity in the devastated Irish economy.

Using philanthropy to stimulate economic activity is not a new phenomenon.

Koret Israel Economic Development Funds (KIEDF), managed in Israel by former attorney and investment banker Carl Kaplan, pioneered philanthropy for economic development by using a portion of the Koret Foundations endowment.

In the process, Koret has become a model for worldwide programs that help philanthropic organizations stimulate economic activity. In Israel, Koret has provided new small businesses with much needed start-up funds.

The American Ireland Fund move is a bold one but not unexpected for an organization that has come to play a much larger role in Irish philanthropy.

Under Glucksman and McLoughlin, the organization has swept away the old fuddy-duddy image, built a vibrant Young Leaders division and created a major new outreach to celebrities, business people and those keen to help Ireland.

The presence of former President Clinton and Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney at the Cork dinner and a lavish reception at the home of Michael Flatley the night before the dinner was just another example of their ability to reach out and deliver major figures in the world of politics, entertainment, and the arts.

The latest step to move away from just strict philanthropy is an exciting one and one that can help small businesses in Ireland significantly.

Another development to come out of the Cork conference is that while the Fund is closing in on its $500 million mark since its inception in 1976 its future is as an endowed institution.

As the conference heard, it is no coincidence that universities represent the vast majority of institutions that make it from one century to the next because of alumni or other major endowments.

That is likely to be the Ireland Fund goal to secure its future.

It is also likely to speak out or have members speak out on Irish related issues. Many at the conference bemoaned the negative image of Ireland that has become prevalent in the American media since the economic crisis hit.

Counter viewpoints are poorly represented, and the Ireland Fund now sees as one of its priorities to provide that needed balance. A recent op-ed in the Wall Street Journal by member David McCourt taking issue with Ireland’s depiction was just one example used.

All in all, new times and new opportunities for the Ireland Fund which will soon find itself as Ireland’s major philanthropic organization as Atlantic Philanthropies winds down.

Based on the evidence in Cork, it gives every indication of being ready to step up to the plate.

Australia replaces real estate as the main topic of Irish conversation -- Land Down Under beckons for a new generation as economy fails

Sydney Opera House went green for St. Patrick's Day.

Dublin -  If you came to Ireland a few years back the topic of conversation inevitably turned to real estate, no matter whom you talked with.

Now that topic is Australia.

Nothing signifies the shift in Ireland’s fortunes more than the new reality that emigration to Australia in particular is on the minds of millions of Irish.

Everyone seems to know someone who has a family member who has emigrated there or is about too.

In a restaurant in Meath on Friday an overheard conversation went like this.

“Not gone yet Down Under?” addressed to a mid-twenties young man.
“No off next week, thanks be to God.”

And so it goes.

 The mining boom in Western Australia in particular has meant that the geography of cities like Perth are discussed as intimately as Cork or Dublin.

A few years back the topic was the number of houses someone owned, how much they had escalated in value, and the latest overseas hot place to buy a second home.

The place to be seen was the latest housing expo featuring properties in Spain, Turkey, or pick your spot in America, especially Florida.

Now tens of thousands line up for hours waiting to enter job fairs for Australia and Canada, which finishes a strong second.

Some of the stories emerging from those fairs are tough to read with families splitting up, people re-emigrating, and especially older intending migrants, their lives in ruins after the bust in Ireland, getting out.

In a local paper here, a vox pop asked a dozen people what they would do if they won the lottery. Three said they would visit Australia to reunite with their sons and daughters who had moved there.

When my nephew Rory recently passed away he was prayed for in Sydney and Melbourne at masses there because of extended family connections there.

It is all part of the new reality or should that be the old reality?

I have often written that emigration waves from Ireland come every thirty years, the 1920s, 1950s, 1980s, and now again.

What I never predicted was that Australia would be the fulcrum of the new exodus.

Neither Britain nor America seems the focus this time. The British economy is only marginally better than Irelands and visa laws make it difficult to access the US.

Australia and Canada, because of restrictive banking laws, are also the only two major industrialized countries that avoided the worst of the banking and real estate boom and bust. Both countries also have massive natural resources.

China’s demands for natural resources and raw materials has fueled the mining boom in Australia and the Irish in search of work have gladly settled there.

Centuries ago the worst fate was to be deported from Ireland to Van Diemen’s Land and forced to work at penal labor. Read Robert Hughes’ classic account ‘The Fatal Shore’ to see just how awful conditions were for the Irish who were sent there.

Now they are leaving on jetliners by the planeload. Sometimes plus ca change.

President Xi Jinping’s visit to Ireland then China’s deep connection with the Shannon region

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping accepts a piece of bog oak from Shannon Development CEO Vincent Cunnane

One of the most unusual stories involving Ireland and China unfolded in the Shannon region recently.

On the afternoon of February 18. Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, the future premier of China, spent several hours at the Shannon Development Zone paying homage to the region that inspired the Chinese economic miracle.

Yes, you read that right. The next leader of what many consider will be the most powerful superpower of all in this century made clear that the inspirational example of Shannon and its economic development
zone had been a major factor in the rise of China.

Shannon Development pioneered the set-aside economic zones, the creation of the first ever duty free and, not to be forgotten, the invention of Irish Coffee.

Last week in New York, Shannon Development CEO Vincent Cunnane recounted how the rural corner of Ireland became an inspiration to Communist China.

Back in the 1980s as China emerged from the dreadful excesses of the Mao era, leaders began searching the world for an economic model.

Deng Xiaoping, a huge reforming figure, sent Jiang Zemin (who was to become president from 1993 to 2002) and a team on a world tour to investigate new models of economic development.
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The Chinese landed in Shannon and were blown away by the duty free zone and how it worked. As Cunnane points out, the zone was a perfect example for the Chinese as they could not turn the entire country into an economic powerhouse overnight, but they could see how specially selected economic zones could work for them.

As Irish Times journalist Conor O’Clery noted, “The place that apparently impressed (the Chinese) the most was the Shannon industrial duty free zone. I’m told they were also very impressed with the informality of their Irish hosts, who took them to Durty Nellies pub afterwards for a sing-song – which may explain the warmth with which the Taoiseach (President) Bertie Ahern was greeted by President Jiang in Beijing in 1998.”

The Chinese government subsequently opened four special economic zones in 1980 on the Shannon model which were extremely successful in attracting foreign investment, stimulating trade and invigorating growth. There are now more than 9,000 such zones all over the country.

In the past 20 years, powerful Chinese leaders have come to Clare and studied Shannon Development. 
They included President Jiang Zemin; Premier Zhu Rongji; Premier Wen Jiabao; Vice Premier Huang Ju and Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan.

Xi was just the latest in a group of leaders to undertake what has become a pilgrimage for Chinese leaders. Cunnane believes that China will now become a major player for Ireland’s economic recovery, and that Shannon will lead the way.

It is a believe it or not story, but one that now looks like it will have a happy ending.

The Celtic Comeback begins as President Clinton leads an Irish charge --Powerful Fortune 500 leaders show way forward for Irish economy

Bill Clinton pictured alongside Irish leaders yesterday in New York

Mark February 9th as the day the Celtic Comeback began.

That was the day in New York that former President Bill Clinton gathered the rich and powerful in American business and delivered them on a silver platter for the Irish government leaders including Prime Minister Enda Kenny and Foreign Minster Eamon Gilmore as well as Jobs Minister Richard Bruton.

Clinton was delivering on a commitment made in September when he attended the Irish Diaspora Economic Forum in Dublin and promised to pull out the stops in an effort to help out Ireland's foundering economy.

On Thursday he delivered, filling a meeting hall at New York University with 25 top executives eager to hear about investing in Ireland .

The president was eager to share his insights that Ireland, like the US, has one of the youngest demographics in the western world and that the educational level is among the highest. People are investing not just for the present but for the future he stated. Many companies were now looking overseas again and Ireland had to get on their radar.

Robert Rubin, his former Treasury Secretary, was there and made a valuable contribution.

Rubin stated he had not really studied the Irish situation until a few weeks ago but he believed the country was dealing with its problems in an admirable manner.

Also there were top executives from Merck, Dow Chemical, Bank of America.

The morning meeting on the 8th floor at NYU university bore the hallmarks of a well-rehearsed sales job.

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First up were CEO's from companies with operations in Ireland telling those thinking of investing there how well they had done.

Leading that charge was Donald Keough, the legendary former president of Coca Cola, who pioneered the multinational invasion in Ireland back in the 1970s.

When Keough talks people listen. These days he is Chairman of Allen and Company, the powerful investment bank, and no one does more to promote his beloved Ireland.

Wilbur Ross the billionaire investor and turnaround specialist seemingly believes in the Irish mission also, as he was vocal in his support of what the Irish government has done to combat the tide of negative news.

After the meeting the three Irish government leaders repaired down one flight of stairs to address 100 leaders in the Irish American community on the Irish economy.

There were joined by Clinton who offered a reprise of the remarks he had made upstairs.

Loretta Brennan Glucksman of the American Ireland Fund praised the IDA, the Irish industrial development agency for the amazing work they continued to do attracting jobs and also the government's emphasis on the importance of philanthropy.

Not coincidentally, IDA news of 485 new jobs in various parts of Ireland was made public on Thursday.

I asked the Irish leader and his colleagues what was the best advice they had heard and the most common criticism at their meeting.

Enda Kenny stated that telling the truth about the financial morass, not gilding the lily and telling it straight was the best advice and one he was adhering to.

Foreign Minister Gilmore stated that the most common criticism was not focusing enough on the skill of the workers themselves who got very high marks from the multinational leaders for their commitment to the job.

Kieran McLaughlin, CEO of the Ireland Funds, summed it up when he stated that what he was hearing was the beginning of what he called the "Celtic Comeback."

And not before time we all thought. Enough of the doom and gloom and more of the American can-do.

Why David Drumm's allegations ring true - Says Irish state knew far more about Anglo collapse than they let on

Former Anglo Irish banker, David Drumm

READ MORE: David Drumm: ‘There is a witch hunt ... I convince myself that this will pass’

Are the Irish in denial over what happened during their banking and economic crisis?

Yesterday we published an exclusive interview with David Drumm, former CEO of Anglo Irish Bank, which made clear Drumm's belief that at key moments in that crisis the entire leadership of the Irish state were in cahoots to prevent a collapse at any price.

That may well have involved highly dubious actions, including one where Anglo Irish Bank loaned some of its best customers tens of millions of dollars to buy the bank's own stock as it began a freefall.

Drumm claims that such actions were clearly agreed to and known about by the key figures in the Irish banking , government and bank regulation world.

It is a sensational claim, making it clear that in the midst of a crisis extraordinary and possibly extra legal decisions were being made.

He cites a recent affidavit from a top bank official which shows that a working group of many leaders in those fields were meeting daily and agreeing strategy as the economic collapse began.

As Drumm describes it, everyone was working together until the collapse became inevitable and then "the scattering began"

Drumm feels that he and Anglo Irish have taken the brunt of the hatred in Ireland for the economic collapse.

He says he is prepared to accept some of the blame but that many of the other key players have got off Scot free.

It will be interesting to see the impact of Drumm's words over the next few weeks.

He is currently in bankruptcy proceedings in Boston and may well have cause to call on some of the same people now denying any knowledge of what was happening as the Irish banking collapse began.

Those were deeply murky times as the banks began to collapse and a panicked government and Irish superstructure tried to prevent it.'What they did in the end, guaranteeing the banks has comeback to haunt the Irish taxpayer.

What David Drumm says has the ring of truth in my opinion, It will be very interesting to see where it leads.

READ MORE: David Drumm: ‘There is a witch hunt ... I convince myself that this will pass’

Bill Clinton's warning about Irish economic prospects -- says country needs to forgive mortgage debt much quicker

Bill Clinton

Former president Bill Clinton worries that Ireland will take too long to recover from its economic difficulties and that it needs to institute emergency measures such as mortgage relief far quicker.

I met the former president at a small midtown charity event last night in New York and Ireland was very much on his mind.

As always he stopped to chat when he meets a small Irish group and his affection and indeed love for the country is very evident.

He had to be dragged away as always when speaking to Irish issues which clearly energize him.

He remarked that Prime Minister Enda Kenny may not have been completely pleased with his advice during his recent visit to Ireland where he was the keynote speaker at the Irish Diaspora conference.

He pointed out that historically, the best way to move on from a recession was to start over and forgive debt as quickly as possible.

That was not the formula being followed in Europe at the present time and he believes that Ireland as well needed to learn that lesson.

Studying the history of previous recessions is the great teacher in these circumstances he suggested.

And that history was clear, that where debt relief was allowed, the recovery comes far quicker he pointed out.

It was sage advice from a former president who most Americans would pick in heartbeat to re-occupy the Oval Office if they got the chance.

Clinton is continuing to help Ireland.

In 2012 he will host an economic summit to bring together multinational business leaders to talk about investment there.

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Read More:
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Bill Clinton says Ireland ‘doing an unbelievable job’
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His message will be clear. If companies are locating subsidiaries overseas, Ireland should be on top of the list

The Clinton era is looking better and better in the rear view mirror as we survey the economic morass today.

Little wonder his new book 'Back to Work' is getting rave reviews.

Here is what The New York Times said.

"It’s a lucid one-man rebuttal of the Tea Party’s anti-government agenda. A series of shrewd talking points for Democrats trying to hold on to the White House and battling for control of Congress in the midst of a sour economy and growing voter discontent. A self-serving reminder of the prosperity the country enjoyed during Mr. Clinton’s tenure in the White House, meant to burnish his legacy. And a practical set of proposals — some borrowed and some new, some innovative and some highly sketchy — for restoring economic growth and creating jobs."

As usual in a crisis it seems Bill Clinton is talking the most sense.

Time has come for daytime flights from US to Ireland - Would boost tourist numbers at a critical time

Tourists outside Old Jameson distillery

London: It is time for a daytime flight from the US to Ireland.

I am more convinced than ever after this trip to London.

I boarded a British Airways plane at 8.30 in New York on Wednesday morning and arrived here in London at 8 p.m local time.

I had time to have dinner, meet a friend and get a full night's sleep and woke this morning feeling refreshed and ready for the world.

Usually when I am flying to Ireland and I have to fly overnight and end up feeling bedraggled and worse for wear for at least a couple of days.
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At least I don't have to go through what many families have to do, sitting around hotel lobbies, sometimes with young kids, waiting for the room check-in time which can often be around 2.p.m.

The flights mostly arrive in around 6.a.m so the hapless family may be at least five or six hours waiting around.

There is no good reason in the world why day-time flights to Ireland cannot happen.

I have heard every argument from crew rosters to plane positioning to hotel rosters but the truth is that the consumer is being overlooked here.

I also think it would do wonders for travel to Ireland with people arriving at a much more civilized hour and getting access to hotel rooms right away.

It is the kind of issue that gets raised every few years but little gets done.

Ye,t at a time when tourism has become a huge factor in the recovery of the Irish economy, it is worth revisiting again

It is so obvious that it would help numbers coming to Ireland immediately.

Whatever airline tries it will benefit greatly I believe

I am certainly all for it -- what do you think?