Now it's Ireland's turn. Not only have Irish actors and productions just hauled a swag of global awards but Irish writers dominated the Man Booker Prize and their rugby team is back-to-back Six Nations champion. Add to that, the attention focused on Ireland's post-financial crisis economic rally and it can feel as though every day here is St Paddy's Day.
As New Zealand has found from time to time - most recently with pandemic containment conspicuous success and global lauding starts out being endearing to much bigger rivals and then, when it goes on and on, sours to snark.
You know you've really made it big when other countries start actively slagging you off. The British media regularly swipes at the Green Isle to its left. Times columnist Rod Liddle wrote recently that he danced jigs and roared "Is Éirennach mé!" (I'm Irish) on his nearest vestigial peat bog when the Irish Parliament's multiparty referendum on constitutional change was defeated.
This story is from the March 30 - April 5, 2024 edition of New Zealand Listener.
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This story is from the March 30 - April 5, 2024 edition of New Zealand Listener.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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