Private driver says "Buy Irish"

I have already touched on the fact that there are more than 40 million people of Irish descent in the USA compared to just over 4 million here at home. Ever since the New World was discovered people had been escaping from places like Ireland trying to find a better way of life. The famine in Ireland really brought it to a head and our population declined from 8 million to 4 million over a period of roughly 20 years. One million of these died as a result of the famine and many more died in transit or through sickness and poverty when they finally reached America. Many also survived and did indeed start to make a new and sucessfull life for themselves. There were those who were never heard of again but there were those who managed to stay in touch with their families at home and as they began to improve their circumstances they did not forget them and began to send money or packages of clothing back to Ireland. As the years went by this became more and more common and many families would not have survived without the help they got from their loved ones in the USA. Christmas was the time most of these packages arrived and the kids would be all excited waiting to see what was in the parcel for them. The dollars in the envelope were like manna from heaven and were always put to great use. It was so heartwarming to know that our own had not forgotten us.
During the more recent times of trouble in Northern Ireland the IRA took advantage of the strong feelings that our Irish Americans had with regard to the unfair and deplorable conditions the Irish Catholics had to endure and vast amounts of monies were collected and sent from the USA. This happened despite the fact that the Irish government and the US government did their best to inform people as to what this money was being used for. The donors believed that it was the right thing to do.
Now we have a very different problem. We are in a recession and eventhough this is a world wide problem, we in Ireland are in a critical state. Unemployment has run out of control and our finances are getting worse by the minute. Our credit rating has plummeted and our borrowings are now costing us a fortune. Companies are pulling out and heading for countries where the wages are much more attractive for the employers, and who could blame them. Our tourist trade is suffering as a result of te recession and the poor value of the dollar. Emigration has returned as there are no jobs. The dole queues are lengthening and tax intake has plummeted. Our exports are declining and we are in a mess.What can we do? What can you do?
We have three sons in the USA. We are not going to ask them to send us dollars as they have their own families to look after and they have their own recession.....but they can help us. Most Irish families have somebody out there just as we have and they too can help. They can buy Irish.They can tell others to buy Irish.If our people in the USA just become more conscious of just how much it would help us here at home if they looked for Irish products when they are shopping and purchase even a little on a ongoing basis then it would be a tremendous help to us here at home. Irish products such as our butter and meat are of the highest quality and nobody would be suffering as a result of having to eat or wear or use Irish products. If we do this then we can not only keep people at work here but we can create even more jobs. You can help...you can be a patriot....you can support the land of your forefathers in her time of need and help your Irish families to retain their dignity by being self sufficient.
The next time you go shopping maybe you can just take the time to see if you can find anything with the "Made in Ireland" or Produced in Ireland" label on it. Then you too can wear the label....
"100% Irish". Maybe also when you think about going on holiday.....you just might come back to Erin. You could not come at a better time as there is really great value here at this point in time.
If you need a driver or chauffeur then just give me a call.If all you need is advice....give me a call also.