Where has all the craic gone?

From my research gathered in my International Flirting Study, I noticed a unique characteristic amongst the Irish. They had a tendency to go out in enormous, single-sex groups, but with the groups freely mixing back and forth. When I asked why people always went out in such large groups, the response was, “more craic!” This love of fun seems to be a strong factor which makes foreigners gravitate towards these people.

Although, I have noticed in more recent visits to Ireland, like any culture, the climate is changing. Economic success has had many effects on the Irish. Their isolated bubble of craic and drink has been forced to accommodate an influx of immigrants, all coming for the mighty Euro rather than the fun. Additionally, the economic success is causing a division among the Irish themselves. There is now the beginning of a class system which, traditionally, was something the Irish would have abhorred to as remnants from their acrimony towards previous British rule.
An example of this burgeoning class system is a sect of Dubliners, referred to as ‘D 4’, who have their own special accents that match their designer dresses. Some Irish also have resentment towards tourists. The Irish want the tourists’ Euros, yet are not happy with what they have to give up in exchange.

Having lived in a village on the west coast of Ireland, which was bombarded with tourists six months of the year, I can understand the sentiment of ‘leave us alone’; yet, when most of the village makes their livelihood from three months during the tourist season, there is also a strong dependence on them.

Let's hope they can find a solution between this difficult matrix of new found prosperity and virgin settlers to the Emerald Isle. Otherwise, where are we to go for craic?