The Celtic Tiger is purring again

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Five years of austerity enforced by the terms of an €85bn bailout from the European Union and International Monetary Fund ended last December when by prudent financial management the Irish Republic unshackled itself from its lender’s handcuffs. It ended a deep and painful recession for its 4.6m citizens, more so as it had been preceded by 12-years of Celtic Tiger-induced growth.

But now Irish eyes are smiling once again and the nation’s consumers are back on the high streets of Dublin ...