The dearest of times, the poorest of times
Statistics recently issued have shown that
the Celtic Tiger economic boom has had different
effects in different parts of Ireland. Two
glaring examples are the city of Dublin and
the county of Donegal.
In the case of the former, it has been ranked
as the thirteenth dearest city in the world
for tourists to visit. Janey Mac, not only
is it the dearest place for visitors, for
residents it is the dearest place in the
country to die in. A survey has discovered
that the cost charged by undertakers for
a medium range funeral is two thousand euros
dearer than in the provinces, 5,000
versus 3,000.
Those who harbour the time honoured wish
of emigrants "bás in Éirinn"
("death in Ireland") should take
note, and shun the capital in favour of less
costly interment in a quieter country setting.
Meanwhile, the Combat Poverty Agency, part
of the technical committee that advises the
government on poverty matters, has issued
a report which states that Donegal has a
poverty rate which is 60% higher than the
national average and three times higher than
inner-city Dublin.
The Central Statistics Office describes
Donegal as the poorest county in Ireland
in terms of disposable income.
Some 72,896 (53%) of the total population
of 137,383 persons in Donegal are dependent
on primary welfare payments, unemployment
is rampant at 15.6%, twice the national average,
and 23% of persons on the unemployment rolls
are below the age of 24.
--30--
Home
| About
| Canadian Vindicator
| Literature
| Gallery
| History
|