Old Dublin

This is a really old photo of Dublin, before even my time. My daughter was born on tne day the IRA blew up Nelon's Pillar. 8/3/1966. For those who don't know about the Pillar, it is the hazy column in the left background.

Old Dublin

I came to live in Dublin in !971 having spent 14 years in England. I found it much changed from 1957 where I had spent 3 weeks in Porto bello Barracks, now Cathaill Brugha. What was then called the singing pubs were every where. Many talented amateur performers would sing, tell jokes, or even dance. Many contests were held, the main one was probably "The Drake Inn", in Finglas". There were also many cabaret venues with performers from the declining Show Band era entertaining. Some of these performers are still with us, Dickie Rock and Sonny Knowles to mention two. I still love live music and am bored with musicians of limited talent, who rely on backing tracks

Bridge on the river Kwai

What's the difference

I have asked the question from Fine Gael, without a satisfactory answer, as to what exactly is the difference between them and Fianna Fail. They both come from the same roots and are right of centre parties, so is it only a different administration they are offering to the Irish electorate. They have had three former leaders, two of them taoiseach, who have endorsed Brian Lennihan's budget strategy.
I would like to know other peoples views on this topic, especially spokesmen for the two big parties.

Ireland in 1940s and 50s

We are going through a bad recession at the moment as we die in the late 70s and 80s but it just does not compare to what I would describe as a depression ireland went through in the 40s and 50s and before.
I returned to my home town of Wicklow having spent some time there which included being evacuated from an orphanage in Croydon near London, but I don't remember being hungry 'til I returned home.
 Poverty was all around and most people lived from day to day and though not starving were often hungry
 There was little or no employment except for the lucky few and thousands were emigrating every year. It was the money sent back by these emigrants that sustained many families. I emigrated in 1957 as there were no prospects for me at home.
 Things didn't change until Sean Lemass took over as taoiseach and encouraged foreign investment, He is one of the few Irish politicians I admire. John