Yeah, you're right, certainly worse in Greece, for sure. But in terms of the trajectory of Irish economic history, rather than in comparison to the rest of the European South, the Irish economy is in a lot of trouble. Not to mention in comparison to Western Europe. By any measure, it's a bit bleak so it is.

Isn't it lucky to see an Irishman on HBO encountering the specters of poverty and death? I've heard that. Even if it isn't, I appreciate it.

Yes, but. Ireland in the 1980s was pretty shitty man. In fact, emigration was a pretty constant feature of the 'Irish experience' since the 1850s. That trend didn't change much throughout the 20th century, and definitely not during the 1980s! The Celtic Tiger, the boom that I guess you are referring to, didn't happen…