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By Daisy Carrington, Contributor Ireland’s changing. Fast. Where once the country stirred up images of threadbare tweed jackets, alcoholism and an omnipotent church, Ireland has become the new Land of Opportunity. Nowhere is the change more apparent than in Galway, the heart of Ireland’s west and, once a year, host of the country’s largest arts festival. “In the late ’80s, unemployment was at 20 percent, inflation was at 20 percent, interest rates were at 20 percent,” claims John Concannon, the Chief Executive at Ireland West Tourism, “and there were absolutely no job prospects. When people came out of school, everyone went to New York or London, because there was absolutely nothing happening.” These facts of a former Ireland are well known. Our image of Ireland has been shaped by the artists who’ve made them known. James Joyce revealed to us the strength of Catholic guilt, Frank McCourt the pervasiveness of poverty on the Emerald Isle. What is lesser known are th

United kingdomJohn concannonSpalding grayDaisy carringtonStuart carolanJohn crumlishDave eggersJames joyceFrank mccourtPope john paulTom murphysSeamus heaneysDance academyChief executiveIreland west tourismNew york