Thriving Irish

The Irish are thriving. No, we're not talking Notre Dame, or the south side of Chicago. We're talking Ireland, the Celtic Tiger.

Maybe we should emigrate back.

Some US firms already have. Why? Low tax rates:

The international accent comes with a transatlantic twang. American companies are the biggest players in the Irish economy, with 470 firms employing more than 95,000 people. High-tech multinationals selected Ireland over continental Europe because its 12.5 per cent tax rate on corporate profit is the lowest in Europe.

Google, for instance, has put its European headquarters in Dublin’s rejuvenated Docklands. It employs 800 people, but plans to nearly double that number. Seventy per cent of its workers are foreigners who speak 40 languages between them – an illustration of Ireland’s claim to be the world’s most globalised economy. They have a very well-educated workforce. Their economy is booming and they are filling empty job slots with immigrants from Eastern Europe.

And now for a little Great Big Sea, from up Newfoundland way, just a flavor of I'm a Rover (Seldom Sober):