The Pope's Children [Hardcover]

"brilliant, eminently readable...indispensable for those who want to understand how Ireland went from being one of the poorest countries in the world to one of the richest..." ("The Boston Globe," March 17, 2008)

"brilliant, eminently readable...indispensable for those who want to understand how Ireland went from being one of the poorest countries in the world to one of the richest..." --"Boston Globe" --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

David McWilliams' brilliant survey of Ireland today is a celebration of success. He takes us to Deckland, that suburban state of mind where you'll find the Kells Angels, those out-of-town commuters who are the cutting edge of the new prosperity. He introduces the HiCos - Hiberno-Cosmopolitans - the elite whose distance from Deckland is measured in their cool sophistication, their ability to feel at home equally on the Boulevard Saint-Michel and on Hill 16. "The Pope's Children" is an antidote to the endless pessimism of the Commentariat, official Ireland's gloomy opinion mongers, forever seeing a glass half empty that is in fact three-quarters full. There is a vast surge of ambition, new money, optimism and hope out there. That's the real story: "The Pope's Children" tells it - and tells it with style.

Meet the Pope’s Children - the new Irish generation, born either side of the Pope’s visit, who have been squeezed into the middle and lifted up by the Celtic Tiger. David McWilliams’ brilliant, bestselling survey of Ireland today is a celebration of success. He takes us to Deckland, that suburban state of mind where you’ll find the Kells Angels, those out-of-town commuters who are the cutting edge of the new prosperity. He introduces the HiCos – the Hiberno-Cosmopolitans – the elite whose distance from Deckland is measured in their cool sophistication, their ability to feel at home equally on the Boulevard Saint-Michel and on Hill 16. The Pope’s Children is an antidote to the endless pessimism of the Commentariat, official Ireland’s gloomy opinion mongers, forever seeing a glass half empty that is in fact three-quarters full. There is a vast surge of ambition, new money, optimism and hope out there. That’s the real story: The Pope’s Children tells it with style. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

David McWilliams - economist, lecturer and broadcaster extraordinaire - he is the presenter of 'The Big Bite' on RTE television. He also writes a weekly opinion column in The Sunday Business Post.