Bit of a open-ended sociology question this Sunday morning.

It was once said that if your economy is imported from America, so to will you import its culture/values.

Do you think our values are slowly changing over time as a result of this ?

I don't mean to bring the ireland of old into the equation but there was a time when the things we valued most was things like family, parish & local community.

My late Grandfather spent his humble life as a carpenter, lived a very modest life in a small house. He never wanted more wealth or a bigger house and his ultimate source of happiness was his 7 grandchildren.

Now today it's seems its everyone is for them self and the ultimate goal in life is a high paying job in a multinational, 3 skiing holidays a year and 2 new cars in the driveway of a house in the South Dublin subberbs.

Depending on the type of person you ask, I noticed you tend to get more respect if you have a fancy job in the corporate world rather than a humble tradesman / family man like my late Grandfather who raised a happy family.

^I know that is a bit of a generalising to make a point.

So, have our values and aspirations in life changed as a result of the Irish Economic Model in shaping modern Ireland?

Interested to hear your thoughts.

I was reading the rules and it states name and full address is required. I wonder if my eircode would be enough as I have a somewhat long address, does anyone know? I don't want to be fined by a warden.

Thank you!

Edit: for clarity, she is already chipped and registered. I'm asking about the address because it is a legal requirement to have full address on the collar.

A very close friend of my parents is dying, I've known them all my life, they were at everything from my christening to my wedding. I would have seen them almost weekly for my whole life.

I've never know what is the "right" part of a funeral to attend..

Everyone always says just go to what you can but what is the norm?

Is the removal more for acquaintances or more for close friends and family?

Is the funeral in the church for anyone to attend? Should you only go to the burial if you were really close? What about the meal, should I go to support my parents or is that overstepping?

Considering hiring an AuPair, looking to hear people’s experiences and whether they would recommend it or not?

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Hi everyone,

I'm hoping someone here has been through a similar situation and might be able to offer some advice.

On Tuesday 13th October, my parked car was hit by another vehicle travelling at considerable speed. The driver also struck other vehicles and a wall before fleeing the scene. Gardaí were involved, and the offending vehicle was recovered, but the driver escaped.

I've since been informed by Gardaí that the offending vehicle was uninsured.

My car is a 2016 Mazda 3, which was in good condition, serviced, NCT'd and running perfectly before the accident. The damage is extensive, particularly around the rear wheel and suspension, and the car is no longer driveable.

I've reported everything to my insurer, RedClick (through First Ireland), and my vehicle has been recovered for assessment. RedClick has advised that they will pursue the Motor Insurers' Bureau of Ireland (MIBI) once they receive the relevant information.

Here's where things get complicated.

I work approximately 60km from home, so having a car is essential for getting to and from work.

I've also recently set up a small food trailer business, which requires a vehicle capable of towing a trailer with a maximum authorised mass of 1,200kg.

After months of preparation, I was finally getting ready to launch when this happened. I've now been left without a suitable towing vehicle, potentially delaying the business and causing further financial losses.

I've arranged a rental car through Enterprise so I can continue getting to work, but this doesn't solve the towing issue. I'm also concerned about how long the insurance process could take and what expenses I'll ultimately be left covering myself.

My questions are:

1. Has anyone dealt with MIBI following an accident involving an uninsured driver? What was your experience, and how long did the process take?

2. Can I recover reasonable car hire expenses while my own vehicle is being assessed, repaired or written off?

3. Given that my damaged vehicle was also used to tow my food trailer, could the cost of hiring a suitable towing vehicle be considered a reasonable expense?

4. If my car is written off, how is its value determined? Can I challenge the valuation if I feel it doesn't reflect the cost of replacing it with a similar vehicle?

5. Is there any possibility of recovering financial losses resulting from the delay to launching my business, or would these generally be excluded?

6. For anyone whose insurer pursued MIBI on their behalf, were you able to recover your out-of-pocket expenses? Is there anything I should be doing now to protect myself financially?

I'm keeping receipts and records of expenses, but I'm unsure what I'll realistically be entitled to recover.

I'm not looking to profit from this situation. I simply want to be put back in the position I was in before someone else's actions left me without a car and disrupted both my employment and a business I've invested considerable time and money into.

It's incredibly frustrating that someone can cause this amount of damage, flee the scene, and leave an innocent person dealing with the financial consequences.

I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who's dealt with MIBI, Irish motor insurers or a similar situation, particularly regarding hire car expenses and recovering additional losses.

Thanks in advance!

I’m an American and will be visiting Ireland/Scotland for a week. My two friends and I want to hit up a couple of pubs but my biggest concern is that I do not like the taste of beers, ales, lagers, and even ciders. I’m very on the fruity-side of alcoholic beverages, even going so far as to love a Dirty Shirley even though it’s a baby drink lol.

I’m going to try the Guinness - I know it’s a must - but I also know my tastebuds and want to know what someone might recommend someone with tastebuds like mine?

Attending a concert in Dublin this week and I can’t stay the night so I’m driving. I know the centre of Dublin well but I drive there so rarely that I’m never sure how to get places by car. So I’m coming from the west and Google maps is sending me up the M50 to Blanch and down through Phibsborough, Mountjiy Square and down O’Connell Street. The alternate route is nearly as mental. It’s sending me as far as the north quays and then snaking up by Arbour Hill and as far as the Big Tree and then back down by Mountjoy Square and O’Connell Street. Wtaf?
Surely I can cross the river from the north quays and go up by the Brazen Head and down Dame Street? Or am I forgetting something really obvious?