Well I'm sure both countries have a lot to be proud of, which really makes it doubly infuriating that we've both ended up in the shit economically.

In Ireland, you reckon you've lent money to builders who can't sell their houses. In England, it turns out we've been lending money to Russian gangsters who never even built any houses.

Back in the 1980's, I went to my bank to ask them to borrow a few hundred quid to get the tax people off my back. the manager wanted to know how much I earned a month. I explained I was a musician and some months I did quite well and some months I didn't make anything much. Blank incomprehension.

I ended up having to borrow the money from my father in law.

These buggers in banks never seem to get it right.