Agriculture

This time I spent almost all my free days in a small market town at western coast, near Liscannor Bay. It was marvelous, even in this hard time of economic crisis. "Irish people are proud and I believe in their's achievements, in their's strength" - this were the words of president Mary McAleese that opened a big event in Athy (Kildare county) this September. There was a big fair of agriculture, a farmers holiday. Everyone enjoyed it. There were cows, bulls, sheeps, a milk machinery, even clothing shops and hairstylists, who advised people how to look great, not only in the field.

This year was not a happiest one indeed. More than 30 thousand people left the island that month. Emigration is something natural for Irish people, but after economic boom they believed it was the end of such fate for Ireland. Now they know, that there is not enough job opportunities for young people. And they are preparing young people for agriculture schools. It might be the end of Celtic Tiger but it is not the end of Irish Dream. They could be again a strong, proud nation of hardworking people. And they will. With their president, who doesn't have much power to decide, but gives people hope, makes them believe. In different way than president Obama in the US. She is quiet and not much of a showmen. In spite of this, she is great. She is a good woman in right place at a right time. A hard time.

Mary McAleese