Well - the Celtic Tiger is a result of having no infrastructure because the Irish had cut their nose off to spite their face.  Since they had no infracture and basically destroyed English Railways and melted the iron into metal fences etc... they were in perfect position for rebuilding from scratch with all the new technology the rest of the world is basically trying to keep up with and deal with obsolete infrastructures they're trying to incorporate. (switching regular cable to fiber optic etc... without disturbing service etc... just one example)  In other words Ireland in the 80's was pretty much like the United States during the industrial revolution.  We had no infrastructure like Europe after world war I, so while the rest of the world was retooling and not embracing technology the United States was in perfect position to do so and profited from doing so. 

So the Celtic Tiger (Ireland's economy) is more a result of lucking into it or being at the right place at the right time.  Can't really claim genius here on that account.  I'm Irish by the way.  So is my wife.  Two of my four daughters are Champion Irish dancers, and one, I'm proud to say will be competing at the World Championships in Belfast at the end of this month. 

By the way.  While "arms have been laid down," the south still considers the north England.  And England barely recognizes the south even when it comes to the daily weather forecast.  The weatherman will stand in front of the south and talk about the weather on the English/Protestant side - North.  Most people in their 30's and 40's in Ireland are embracing their prosperity, which is why it's been easier to let go of the past.  However here's the kicker.  Those in the South who have embraced the Celtic Tiger economy have leveraged their finances like 2/3's of the American population.  So while your praising Ireland say a prayer for them as well, for they're in line to repeat the very same thing we have done here when it comes to income to debt ratios and leveraging their homes which have seen huge rates of increase.  A friend of our purchased their home 10 years ago for 85,000 Euro and it's worth almost a 800,000 Euro today. 

What can happen here is the Sterling still being stronger than the Euro is that the English could end up buying back southern Ireland.  You think that might open some old wounds?  I love Ireland.  I want to see the country prosper for as long as I live, but I want them to learn from us. Also I want anyone reading this post to understand that once again the US Dollar has a great deal to do with the success of the Euro and has a great impact on it.  Ask anyone in the European union.  Unfortunatly the people in Ireland have been huge fans of the Democratic party, (brain washed from media) and many homes in Ireland today have a photo of John F. Kennedy hanging in their living rooms. 

I could go on and on with this topic but I just thought I'd lend a different perspective.