Celtic Tiger in distress

Peadar Kirby's research into the much-talked about 'Celtic Tiger' has yielded a book entitled "The Celtic Tiger in Distress: Growth with Inequality in Ireland".

This book, which was launched on the 17 January this year, is the most comprehensive work done to date on the phenomenon of the Celtic Tiger.

In the words of Peadar's publisher, "Kirby highlights the ambiguity at the heart of the Celtic Tiger, namely that economic success has gone hand in hand with social failure. While he acknowledges with ample evidence the remarkable increase in living standards and employment, he also shows how these may not have left most people better off."

Kirby wonders if the success of globalisation is nothing more than a smoke screen. He offers the theory that the Celtic Tiger was the uncertain result of globalisation. He puts forward evidence to prove that the Irish government has shown more interest in the success of the Celtic Tiger as opposed to the improvement of quality of life for most Irish people.

Peadar's book was reviewed by Kathy Donaghy of the Irish Independent in an article entitled 'Economic gains are society's losses' (newsclippings archive, 16 January 2002). His own article on the book appeared in The Irish Times (21 January 2002), also in the archive.

The book is available in both hardback and paperback, priced €45.00 and €16.99 accordingly. The book is available from most bookshops and is also available from the bookstore on campus.