Kicking about Kilkenny and Irish Politics

We spent a kick-back day on the 30^th in Kilkenny with Joe and Lisa; Lisa and I wandering about the charming little town doing some shopping, Joe and Rick comfortably planted in one of the many local pubs, engaging in lively political conversation with some of the locals.  On Thursday the 31^st, the citizens of the Republic of Ireland were voting on whether to agree with the European Union’s ideas about fiscal control of its member countries.  Joel, one of the locals whom we had discussion with, explained to us that in other EU countries their Parliaments make that decision for them, but in Ireland the people still have the vote.  We say many signs about the country about this campaign – “NO to Austerity”, “YES to Stability”.  The folks we talked with in Billy Boynes’ Pub in Kilkenny were “NO”; but traveling on farther south and then to the west, we found more “YES” people.  As it turned out, the YES’s won so Ireland will continue to submit itself to the EU’s plans for controlling the amount of debt its members can accrue (trying to avoid what has happened with Greece).