How this country clawed its way back from the brink

After the banking crisis, presenting a united government front was essential in order to restore international confidence in Ireland – but it took its toll

Ajai Chopra, left, deputy director of the European Department of the IMF and colleagues make their way to the Central Bank for talks with the Irish government in Dublin on November 18, 2010 Pic: AP

As the skies darkened over Wall Street ten years ago this week, even the most convinced advocates of a soft landing knew we were in trouble. Not in living memory had anyone experienced the late-night scenes we watched with fascination on our television screens. We knew this was a film coming to a location near us soon.

September 29, 2008 is a date that will forever live in controversy. Late at night, in ...