Signs of the Recession in Ireland

A variety of comments about visible evidence of the depth of the recession here in Ireland gleaned from various online Irish comment boards

Went shopping to Lidl last night, and the place was full. Car park full of 4X4's and large cars.

Last night my Chinese takeaway was delivered by an Irish delivery man..

I was speaking to a vet yesterday, and she said people are less likely to opt for the expensive surgery that could save the dog/cat.

A friend was telling me that the bank where he works are watching "excessive" toilet breaks.

Soup kitchens and food centres providing meals for those in need are struggling to
cope with the rising demand for their services as job losses mount and the downturn deepens.They are reporting increases of up to 13.3pc in demand this year,
with construction workers joining cash-strapped families for food parcels.

Was in a Dunnes Stores today and the porridge section was nearly cleared out - all brands.

I've heard that insurance assessors have been kept busy looking at a lot of burnt out high-end cars and SUVs of late.

Passed a business today, with a sign on the door. "No Staff Wanted."
Reckon they were pestered by job seekers.

Pay as you go leisure centres and swimming pools are inundated with unemployed builders /tradesmen during the daytime.

Sandwich chain O'Brien's, along with other mid-market retailers, is facing "extremely" serious trading conditions, according to the company's founder and chairman, Brody Sweeney.

A guy I know went to look at a used Land Rover, the guy in the showroom immediately told him the price was €5K less than the sticker price, before even asking, and then when they were talking more, the price was clearly very negotiable from there also.

Heard from a friend of a friend that mortgage and loan staff in their bank branch haven't sold a mortgage or loan for months. Instead they're literally ringing people in arrears all day every day.

Oxegen are taking flexible payments for their tickets this year, you can put down deposit and pay rest later.

On Marian Finucane’s programme on Saturday re inheritance, wills etc.Some people are finding that being left a house in a will becomes a liability due the capital acquisitions tax being due within one year, possible outstanding mortgage liability and the difficulty of selling the property. Marian was even heard to ask if it was possible to decline to accept the property….Changing times.

Pouches of 'roll-your-own' tobacco and Rizlas requested much more frequently in the shop queues these days…Shop assistant says they often run out of the ‘Amber Leaf’ the most competitively priced brand .

The small change that used to litter the floor of local supermarkets has disappeared. I used to regularly pick up about 20 or 30c and put it in a box for special needs at the exit but its all disappeared for the past 3 months.

No one ducks their head in shame when they spot someone they know in Lidl anymore. Instead they have loud conversations about the great value to be had there.

Latest data does show a surge towards prepay mobiles and away from mobile phone contracts.

The Law Society Gazette cover headline is "LANDS OF OPPORTUNITY? Job Seeking in other jurisdictions".

Friend works in a hospital in Galway and works for a consultant who does breast cancer care- the amount of women calling to cancel initial appointments because they cannot afford the 160€ consultancy fee is rising rapidly.

In the Dublin Great Run . Bertie Ahern was there to start it off. In the silence in between Bertie being announced and starting the race, someone shouted out "Bertie, you're a fucking liar!"..He went bright red.

Counted 100 taxis queuing for Heuston station last Sunday.Nearly the entire length of St Johns road west.

Got a text from Xtravision asking if an outstanding fine was keeping me away and if so come back and all will be forgiven on the spot.

The Republic's highest paid university head has suggested that staff work for a week for nothing to help the college through the current financial crisis.The move by University College Cork (UCC) president Dr Michael Murphy comes as university heads themselves consider a voluntary pay cut

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