It's an Ireland chock-full of confident twentysomethings.

Where its beautiful women seem to be acquiring orange tans and where natural red heads are going blonde.

It's an Ireland whose counter service is likely to be non-Irish.

It's an Ireland resisting its melting pot mandate--slipping away from being The Land of the Thousand Welcomes.

It's Rip-Off Ireland where it's cheaper to buy a pint of Kilkenny in Berlin than down the street from the brewery.

It's a land of traffic hell.

I like New Ireland, bought a house here, and feel obliged to contribute to her culture. I'm surprised at the rise of unapologetic consumerism and worried about the total demise of vocations of service. But I'm not alone in my concerns and I think that means New Ireland will emerge from this decade with a blend of confidence and creativity--characteristics that would make the Global Irish proud.

Complete with a Gulker original photo. Change is the only certainty...
Comments 9:33:34 PM    

Lough Inough, in Ireland's Connemara region. Scene of 70 miles of beautiful hiking last week. It didn't rain during the whole trip...!
Comments 9:05:37 AM    

Chris Gulker's view from Silicon Valley - in words and pictures