The state of Ireland

"how did they manage to get planning permission?"
Very poor quality planning units in rural councils that tend not to give a toss about the landscape. That and a general post-colonial approach to property law that allows owners to do nearly anything they want with their property.

"What in God's name is the solution?"
Pfft. Dunno. Sure it'll all sort itself out eventually. Pint?

You are describing our land\scape on the shores of Lake Erie. McMansions all over the place, new roads built, cul-de-sacs all with }2nd. homes or "summer" homes that will not be sold for a long, long time. So far, there is no talk of tearing them down, but some of the building materiel is valuable (copper for exanple) & the out-of-work local population sneaks in & hauls it away. Ireland has a good growing climate like we do, yours is even better. Here, everyone is talking about bio-fuel, cars & trucks that run on fuel made from vegetion. Like ethonal only not using corn. Right now, all the abandonded fields are sprouting corn-stalks, but this won't last. Corn takes too much out of the soil.
What they are looking for now is a perennial stron-growing plant that can be harvested many time - like hay - only it will be used as the "new oil"
I hope they find it soon. Ireland is such a beautiful country, I hate to think of it covered with McMansions.

I returned when the economy in the US was catching a cold back when the sub-prime meltdown started. People here were totally oblivious to what was going on, when the stock markets took a tumble in 07 those who said the boom was over were vilified and told to shut up because they were spreading negativity. As for alcohol being the solution to the worlds problems I am reminded that FDR took 12 years to solve the Great Depression but ended prohibition in his first 100 days.

>1 citizenkelly:

The Irish economy boom went up very quickly and came down very quickly. Perhaps there is some causal connection in this. Just wondering. In any case, it will take several years for The Celtic Tiger to regain his spots.

On this theme of boom and bust in Ireland, I have recently read a very good first novel The Ghost Estate by John Connell.

Have any of you read it? What did you think of it?