A day's respite from the gloom
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Tuesday March 17 2009
AT A TIME when we are beset by some of the greatest difficulties in our history, many of us will not be disposed to celebrate the feast of our national saint today with our customary exuberance. But we do have things to celebrate, some admittedly at the level of shamrocks and leprechauns but most far beyond it.
The recession has dented our confidence, but it has not killed off our sense of humour. Bob the Builder will lead today's parade in Ballinrobe, Co Mayo. Considering his part in the crash, he may seem an unlikely hero, but the organisers seek to bring him back to life. Good luck to them.
In the Name of the Grandfather has brought the Simpsons to Ireland. One of the writers (Irish-descended, of course) says that Grandpa Simpson finds the country has been "taken over by corporations". When the writer's colleagues, also Irish-descended, visit us, they find Ireland "much more high-tech".
That is the image we have promoted so assiduously for decades, with outstanding success. Unfortunately, in recent times the image has taken a serious knock, with Ireland harder hit by the global financial crisis than any other eurozone country and with murders in the North reviving fears of a return to the horrible days of the "Troubles".
In the hope of repairing our reputation, Brian Cowen today will deploy one of our most powerful weapons, the unique goodwill we enjoy in the United States.
This is an excellent strategy, whether it was the Taoiseach's own brainwave or something dreamed up by clever officials. What matters is that it was carefully thought out and designed to achieve tangible and practical ends like progress on the issue of visas, that long and tangled controversy.
Mr Cowen has two messages to convey, to the world in general and to President Obama specifically. To the world: We have a clear strategy to deal with the crisis and are preparing to take advantage of the recovery when it comes. To the President: Ireland is still at peace. The bad old days are not coming back.
The second reassurance will be more easily accepted. Our response to the recession has been the subject of severe criticism in the influential American media. It will take a united effort to convince our friends abroad that we are "still the indomitable Irishry". If we can do it, we will truly have something to celebrate.
