The Celtic Tiger

The Celtic Tiger was a period of rapid economic growth in Ireland roughly from the mid-1990s to the late 2000s. During this time, Ireland experienced significant increases in income, investment, and employment, fueled by factors like favorable policies, technological advances, and foreign investment, especially from tech and pharmaceutical companies. This boom transformed Ireland from a relatively poor country into a prosperous one, leading to improved living standards. However, it also created economic vulnerabilities, and the subsequent financial crisis of 2008 highlighted the risks of rapid growth driven by borrowed money and speculative investments.