FOUR DAYS IN SHAMROCKVILLE.

Having just returned from a delightful few days in the Republic of Ireland, Westport to be precise, where global warming is so obiviously unheard of. It is probably lodged only in the limited brain of Hilary Benn.

Although this well organized party was heavily biased towards the female of the species, over seventy five percent. The balance, possibly makeweights, tagged along managing occasionally to get a word in edgeways.

The hospitality was five star. Nevertheless it is apparent that the natives can't put a good tragedy to bed. The Potato Famine. This undoubtedly was a disaster at the time, but, it's something about which, they never shut up. Incidently, much of the ground in the area is barren, as indeed it would have been in the mid nineteenth century.

There is something else which is clear to the visitor, Their family attitudes. This is not unlike what the author has observed in both Spain and Portugal. They, the families, including the very young, behaved beautifully. If only we in England, could return to this type of culture.

The cost of living is above ours, to eat out could be estimated at between twenty/tentyfive percent more than the UK. This is undoubtedly due to a slavish pursuit of the EU, which will cost them more dearly should they fall for the bribe regarding the Lisbon Treaty.





THE GOOD TIMES ARE GONE.