Born in 2010

Ireland accepted an EU-IMF bailout of €85 billion — a national humiliation that ended the notion of sovereignty that generations had fought for. Emigration continued. Young families with negative equity were trapped in houses they couldn't sell.

The political establishment was distrusted completely. And yet: in sport, GAA and rugby provided consolation. In music, Irish bands were still producing work of international quality.

In the pubs, the conversation was dark but the company was warm. Ireland endured.