What does Saint Patrick's characteristics mean for Ireland today?

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The last few years for one of the most celebrated nations of the world have been painful. Unemployment remains stubbornly high, remaining at 14.1% (Central Statistics Office; February 2013), leaving many concerned about the future direction of the country's economic prospects, leading to many Irish emigrating. And, to many people's astonishment, the party who were primarily accused of bringing shame and humiliation on the country in early 2011, Fianna Fáil, have bounced back in some form in recent opinion polls, just only approximately two years after current Taoiseach Enda Kenny led his Fine Gael party to their first election victory since late 1982.

But Ireland is bouncing back. It may not feel like the good old days of unconstrained prosperity just yet, but figures published by the Quarterly National Household Survey show that employment increased for the first time since 2008. But there is a long way to go and the figures from the survey have shown not so encouraging figures for sectors including construction, defence and transportation and storage. The unemployment crisis, which has led to a dramatic rise in emigration, has seen families say goodbye to their loved ones, many Irish people forced to leave their country in order to earn a living elsewhere in the world and broken so many people's hearts. The economic crisis has hurt many people.

But what does Saint Patrick have to do with all this? Well, let's look at his character. If there's any attribute you can credit him with it was how courageous he was as a man. The Irish people are naturally courageous and that is reflected in how far they have gone in this world. They have faced crisis' of a similar nature in the 1950's and 1980's and are facing major issues such as a high rate of emigration, in combination with the current ongoing economic crisis, right now. They faced those problems before and won. And with their naturally positive and upbeat spirit, they will do so again.

To quote current Uachtarán na hÉireann (Irish President), Michael D Higgins:

"...our economic condtion does not, on its own, define who we are."

The Irish, at home and abroad, will never allow economics to compromise their identity as a people. And that's admirable. For as long as they stick to this, despite all the setbacks they have faced and may continue to face for some time to come, they will continue to prosper.

Lá Fhéile Pádraig Shona.