Ireland is not your typical island. On day one here in the capital city of Dublin, which is located on the easternmost coast - and there has not been one mention of a beach, surfing, or sand castles - only talk of the historic Dublin castle. Dublin, an industrial city, has played host to a number of companies that have influenced the world over: Fruit of the Loom, Dell, and the legendary Guiness Brewery. Guiness beer, almost as Irish as leprechauns, is the only one of the aforementioned companies still thriving on Irish soil. The company's brewery is located in the heart of the city- just around the corner from the cities financial district, a ten minute drive from U2's original recording studio, and just over the rainbow and past the pot of gold from the castle.
    Ireland's current economic state is just another loop in its fiscal roller coaster ride. Since the countries famed fammine of the late 1800's the land marked by the green, white, and orange vertically striped flag has experienced the terribly turbulent times of the late 1960's and early 1970's, the depressive drug dealing days of the 1980's, and the economic boom which attracted mass immigration during the mid-1990's. However rocky this roller coaster is for Ireland, these ups and downs comprise just another ride in the world's economic theme park. As the world's economic Disneyland showed that its a small world after all, many countries, including Ireland, have been affected by the current recession. The country's boom, the Celtic tiger, has been annihalated. The evidence of the dismal fiscal times is in the windows of the boutiques in the downtown area where slashed prices are so low the next step would be bartering.
    There is an old Irish saying: "Ireland's greatest export is its people,"and as I walked through the market today window shopping, I saw exactly why: the rich spirited, politically active, religously optimistic people of Dublin moved in crowds though soggy cobblestone streets. I watched as people socialized. There was a Manchester United Futbol match on the telly that distracted many people in the pubs, while others focused on more pertinent battles such as the one between Palestine and Israel. The protesters and the pro sports watchers alike all added to the sights, sounds, and statement that is Dublin, Ireland- its people is what makes this city, not its potatoes, rock stars, or beer.    

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