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Who Really Runs Ireland?: The story of the elite who led Ireland from bust to boom ... and back again
The story of the elite who led Ireland from bust to boom ... and back to bust again
Having money and not having it; making it and losing it; using it and misusing it; giving it and taking it ... this is the story of Ireland during the boom, described in jaw-dropping detail in Who Really Runs Ireland?
Leading journalist Matt Cooper identifies the most influential people in Ireland during the Celtic Tiger era, describes how they interacted with each other to mutual benefit, and reveals who were the few to retain their power amid the debris arising from the bursting of the Irish economic bubble.
'Highly accessible and akin to a good thriller ... fascinating ... compelling' Sunday Tribune
'Hugely entertaining as well as instructive' Irish Independent
'Impressive and eminently readable' Irish Times
'An eye-opener ... you might be driven to tears of rage' David McCullagh, RTE
'The detail is riveting ... and a lot of it illuminating'Irish Examiner
'The scale of Cooper's research is highly impressive ... an in-depth reference guide to folly and hubris' Sunday Business Post
'Complex but surprisingly reader-friendly ... a rattling, and frequently horrifying, read' Hot Press
'Superbly readable and insightful ... a must-have' Irish Mail on Sunday
Having money and not having it; making it and losing it; using it and misusing it; giving it and taking it ... this is the story of Ireland during the boom, described in jaw-dropping detail in Who Really Runs Ireland?
Leading journalist Matt Cooper identifies the most influential people in Ireland during the Celtic Tiger era, describes how they interacted with each other to mutual benefit, and reveals who were the few to retain their power amid the debris arising from the bursting of the Irish economic bubble.
'Highly accessible and akin to a good thriller ... fascinating ... compelling' Sunday Tribune
'Hugely entertaining as well as instructive' Irish Independent
'Impressive and eminently readable' Irish Times
'An eye-opener ... you might be driven to tears of rage' David McCullagh, RTE
'The detail is riveting ... and a lot of it illuminating'Irish Examiner
'The scale of Cooper's research is highly impressive ... an in-depth reference guide to folly and hubris' Sunday Business Post
'Complex but surprisingly reader-friendly ... a rattling, and frequently horrifying, read' Hot Press
'Superbly readable and insightful ... a must-have' Irish Mail on Sunday
442 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 10, 2020
I'd probably give this 4 3/4 stars if I could. Cooper's book is both compelling and appalling. It's a terrible cliche, but it really is like watching a slow motion train wreck. />
The hubris and greed of all the main players would do a Greek tragedy proud, but in this instance thousands of people have lost their life savings and jobs, and it seems as though once again Ireland will be forced to rely on its traditional export - its own people. No one in politics, banking or the supposed industry 'regulators' come out of this well The general eagerness to particpiate in a property bubble meant that all the usual checks and balances - rubbery at the best of times in Ireland - were disregarded in the rush to get rich. />
As a journo, Cooper does a good job of explaining some very complicated financial transactison which were menat to be opaque. Pehaps the only issues is remembering just who is who in this mire - although that's not really Cooper's fault given the cast of rogues - and the occasional tendency to introduce an acronym without a proper explanation.
All in all an excellent if depressing book
The hubris and greed of all the main players would do a Greek tragedy proud, but in this instance thousands of people have lost their life savings and jobs, and it seems as though once again Ireland will be forced to rely on its traditional export - its own people. No one in politics, banking or the supposed industry 'regulators' come out of this well The general eagerness to particpiate in a property bubble meant that all the usual checks and balances - rubbery at the best of times in Ireland - were disregarded in the rush to get rich. />
As a journo, Cooper does a good job of explaining some very complicated financial transactison which were menat to be opaque. Pehaps the only issues is remembering just who is who in this mire - although that's not really Cooper's fault given the cast of rogues - and the occasional tendency to introduce an acronym without a proper explanation.
All in all an excellent if depressing book
February 11, 2011
Not interesting . Basically a rehash of media interviews and articles and a tedious compendium of who was who in Ireland during the boom. Nothing new to add by way of insight or analysis. I have only lived in Ireland for 4 years but felt I was re-reading stuff that I already knew regarding the usual suspects - greedy developers, corrupt politicians, inept regulators, etc.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews