Originally posted by N16:
I was at home for the weekend and came back last night feeling a small bit nostalgic. We were watching TG4 and there was a programme on about half 7 of clips of recording of Irish traditional music and sogn going back to the 70s and 80s and early 90s. I grew up in the 80s and the Ireland I remember then was a lot more innocent and happier than it is now. I know times were probably harder but it seems to me that though people had less, they were happier. Or maybe I'm just seeing things through rose tinted glasses?
I was reading yesterday on the plane back about what they say caused all the trouble at the Swedish House Mafia gig. Gangs basically targetting the event so sell drugs but bringing heavies with them to protect themselves so they could peddle drugs and loads of them were on crystal meth and thats what lead to a lot of the violence. Though I was never at one, I remember the Feile festivals when i was growing up - the trip to Tipp - and everyone I talked to that were at it said they were great weekends. Electric Picnic is a good weekend with little or no trouble but it attracts an older crowd - but I've heard that Oxygen can be very edgy. Cocaine is widely available as is meth these days - when I was in my teenage years the only drug I ever heard anyone around using was a bit of pot and no one had a problem with it,
Was looking at that clip last week of those 2 street rats getting a kicking in Dublin. I spent an hour looking at other similar clips - it seems to me that Ireland is a hell of a lot more unruly now than it has ever been. So many scvmbags walking the streets. Parts of Limerick City no go areas, drug users is huge numbers around O'Connell St in Dublin, certain elemetns of travellers now a law unto themselves. There have been several cases in Ennis recently that highlight just how lawless some of them have become.
On top of that we have a TV station in TV3 that seems to be aimed at a tabloid culture, producing and broadcasting inane TV shows such as Expose that fuel the whole "celeb" crap culture that has taken over in the last 10 years. We are bombarded now with reality TV, glofied karaoke shows and shows where these celebrities dance off aaginst each other and that is passed off as family entertainment/. Nothing seems to be individual any more. Some of the kids walking the streets can hardly read or write nor do they want to.
I know things have improved in a lot of ways but has Ireland paid a huge price for that? The country is on its knees now, the bubble burst and there seems to be huge social issues that have come about over the course of the boom that no one seems to be able to fix.
Maybe I'm looking back at the 80s and 90s through rose tinted glasses. But I cant help feeling that people were more innoceent then and a lot happier.

Originally posted by clangera:
A couple of weeks ago I had the misfortune to overhear a conversation between 2 bould teenage girls (actually I think they wanted me to hear). You wouldnt believe the stuff they were saying - absolutely filthy.

Originally posted by Bressie:
What sort of stuff were they saying?

Originally posted by clangera:
They were talking about sex, in pretty graphic terms, stuff they had done themselves!

Originally posted by Arkle:
Selective nostalgia there.
Dublin had a massive heroin problem back in the '80s, it was oft cited as being the worst in Europe at the time. And it wasn't the only place in the country, there were even people od'ing in Ennis.
As regards violence and no-go areas.... Ireland has always been a violent place, it is part of our culture. I can remember serious beatings outside places like McEvoy's in the Market in Ennis every Sat night. Parts of Limerick like South Hill have been no go as long as I've been able to have memories. Did you ever go into Limerick on weekend night back in the 80's? It was rough, very rough. I can remember pitched battles between Guards and s****gs.
People were just as big into what ever the tabloid culture of the era was back then too.

Originally posted by ProjX:
N16, Ireland is a great country. People from all over the world are coming here in their droves for a better life and opportunities.Business is booming again, Ireland is a very attractive place for investment.The quality of life in Ireland is at an all time high. Over 85% of the population is in employment. Social welfare looks after people and probably looks after them a little too well:-)For you, who could not or would not make a life for yourself in this great country, to criticise this country is not something I am happy with. You are also on here giving out about the UK. Maybe you need to be a bit happier with what you have and whee you are. What is your definition of success and happiness is? Ireland allows all of us to realise that definition.

Originally posted by murraymarmalade:
The BBC3 programme "It could happen here" that I watched a few nights ago painted a slightly different picture with young people emigrating from Ireland in their droves.

Originally posted by ProjX:
I saw that too and it was very sad. Ultimately, I think a country should be able to give all it's citizens an opportunity to make a life in their own country. I believe it is good for a person to live and work abroad for a time, but forced emigration always hits a nerve with me.I have made 1 key observation over the years, Irish people will go abroad and work in jobs that they would consider below them were the jobs in Ireland.I see Irish people going to Canada and Australia, for example, and taking up jobs that they would not even dream of doing in Ireland. This makes no sense to me, apart from the weather obviously.Why is it that immigrants are continuing to arrive in Ireland in their droves and are n almost full employment, whereas Irish people must go abroad?Many of the immigrants are immensely qualified, skilled and smart. They a helping to build the businesses of the future. I think it is essential that Irish people who think their future is bleak, willidentify where is the need in the labour market, not just now but in 5 years time, and will equip themselves with the appropriate skills and education.

Originally posted by N16:
I was at home for the weekend and came back last night feeling a small bit nostalgic. We were watching TG4 and there was a programme on about half 7 of clips of recording of Irish traditional music and sogn going back to the 70s and 80s and early 90s. I grew up in the 80s and the Ireland I remember then was a lot more innocent and happier than it is now. I know times were probably harder but it seems to me that though people had less, they were happier. Or maybe I'm just seeing things through rose tinted glasses?
I was reading yesterday on the plane back about what they say caused all the trouble at the Swedish House Mafia gig. Gangs basically targetting the event so sell drugs but bringing heavies with them to protect themselves so they could peddle drugs and loads of them were on crystal meth and thats what lead to a lot of the violence. Though I was never at one, I remember the Feile festivals when i was growing up - the trip to Tipp - and everyone I talked to that were at it said they were great weekends. Electric Picnic is a good weekend with little or no trouble but it attracts an older crowd - but I've heard that Oxygen can be very edgy. Cocaine is widely available as is meth these days - when I was in my teenage years the only drug I ever heard anyone around using was a bit of pot and no one had a problem with it,
Was looking at that clip last week of those 2 street rats getting a kicking in Dublin. I spent an hour looking at other similar clips - it seems to me that Ireland is a hell of a lot more unruly now than it has ever been. So many scvmbags walking the streets. Parts of Limerick City no go areas, drug users is huge numbers around O'Connell St in Dublin, certain elemetns of travellers now a law unto themselves. There have been several cases in Ennis recently that highlight just how lawless some of them have become.
On top of that we have a TV station in TV3 that seems to be aimed at a tabloid culture, producing and broadcasting inane TV shows such as Expose that fuel the whole "celeb" crap culture that has taken over in the last 10 years. We are bombarded now with reality TV, glofied karaoke shows and shows where these celebrities dance off aaginst each other and that is passed off as family entertainment/. Nothing seems to be individual any more. Some of the kids walking the streets can hardly read or write nor do they want to.
I know things have improved in a lot of ways but has Ireland paid a huge price for that? The country is on its knees now, the bubble burst and there seems to be huge social issues that have come about over the course of the boom that no one seems to be able to fix.
Maybe I'm looking back at the 80s and 90s through rose tinted glasses. But I cant help feeling that people were more innoceent then and a lot happier.

Originally posted by ProjX:
to criticise this country is not something I am happy with. You are also on here giving out about the UK. .

Originally posted by let it long:
I think you've over egged it there Arkle. Dublins drug problems are still huge, just walk the liffey walkway any day. Ireland is far more violent now. Murders were huge news back in the eighties. You might get 2 or 3 a year. Now its 2 a week with drug gang violence being responsible for most of it.
People were far friendlier. Most people wouldn't even say hi to their neighbours in most estates and rarely talk if you live down the country. Back in the eighties you'd spend most evenings on the garden wall chatting.
Irish music is as good as dead. I remember going to various pubs around my town in the eighties and they would be packed to the doors with people at trad sessions or showband type gigs. Now they're empty and you have a drone of some club junk bursting your eardrums if you head in for a pint.
Sh1t and all as the eighties were its still a damn sight better than the impersonal, violent and self absorbed place it is now.

This message has been edited - 23-jul-2012 @ 23:35

Originally posted by let it long:
Back in the eighties you'd spend most evenings on the garden wall chatting.
.

Originally posted by Tippsy McStagger:
Interesting from reading that table that 2011 saw the lowest murder rate in Ireland since 1994, a statistic I hadn't heard before, but I guess that doesn't fit into the hysterical media narrative on this subject.

This message has been edited - 24-jul-2012 @ 23:29

This message has been edited - 26-jul-2012 @ 23:33

Originally posted by rev it up:
The rise of feminism which has lead to women occupying more influential roles leading to an over regulated nanny, " you cant do that " culture which frankly is quiet frightening.