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Stories from the Celtic Tiger Years Mod Warning in OP PLEASE READ

chops018

Does anyone have any good (or bad) stories from the Celtic Tiger years?

You always hear phrases about how people partied etc., was there just a constant flow of credit available to people and people actually taking the money e.g. was there actually teachers on circa €30k a year buying a house and car and an apartment somewhere.

I was in school and college during these years, graduated into the recession, so I didn't really see what was fully going on at the time bar the fact everyone was working and had money. My dad was working on the buildings on great money and my mam was working away also, we were never stuck really money-wise, also rent seemed to be a lot cheaper back then and fuel and also my college fees were only around €800 a year along with wages being fairly similar to what they are now (from what I can remember anyway, will stand corrected if I am wrong)

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[Deleted User]

CrankyHaus wrote: »

I was working in a bookies just before it all come to an end; when "soft landing" and "let's not talk ourselves into a recession" were being bandied around.
The rumour one day was that the Santry shop was down €250,000 in turnover after a single builder who frequented it went bust.

Idiots, some of them highly paid politicians and journalists, banging on about talking ourselves into a recession....

weldoninhio

pgj2015 wrote: »

I know of a guy who paid 100 euro for a taxi trip that should have cost around 7. The taxi was booked but not after 100 euro being offered.

A friend of min was at a stag in Galway, from Dublin. Got in a fight with his gf over the phone, and got a taxi home from Galway to Dublin at 3am. Flew back down to Galway the next day.

Marty Xavier

I was working in the construction industry as a supplier, we literally saw our business quadruple in the space of a few years from the late 90s til 2007, even 2008 was good but we were getting alot of bad debts. I do remember thinking in August 2007 that something shifted after the builders holidays. Some sites didn't re-open and lads were let off suddenly but the same thing happened in 2001 after Sep 11.

Needless to say we lost 80% of our turnover in 09,10 but manage to limp along for a few years and things were good again the last few years. God knows what the next year will bring?

Money wise there was plenty, we had a great foreign holiday every year out to Asia and it was fantastic probably €5k for myself and herself. Luckily being in my 20s I wasn't interested in investing so manage not to go broke but did buy a house in 2006 that I sold last year at a loss.
I went to school with a few lads that ended up having their assets taken over by NAMA, some of them worked for them after and seem to be doing ok again.

California Dreamer

Muahahaha wrote: »

As well as that during the Tiger there was a boom with lads training to become helicopter pilots. Knew one chap who got a bank loan of 100k and paid it over to a flying school in Florida where he said half the class was Irish. Bit of a hard landing for them all when the crash came, puns intended

50 hours will get you a PPL (H)

There was a number of UK helicopter agencies that were selling the machines and the lessons at the same time and there was regular arguments between the sales team and the training team to get new buyers passed without much hassle.

The Robinson R44 was the Toyota Corolla of helicopters and everyone had one as they are a simple machine to learn how to fly. I was really surprised that there was not more accidents.

Kaybaykwah

Ipso wrote: »

A few of the Ross O’Carroll Kelly books got the era spot on.

Thank you, I'll be checking them out.

Ipso

Kaybaykwah wrote: »

From my standpoint, having lived in Dublin in the mid eighties, I remember the shoestring circumstances with affection, but I thought Ireland had something up its sleeve. There were all these young people leaving, educated, talented and wanting to experience life abroad. The same cycle of wash rinse repeat that bled Ireland for like ever, suddenly interrupted, and reversed by positive migration. I wasn't there to experience it, but was pleasantly surprised by the new circumstances when the Canadian media heralded the Celtic Tiger years.

Reading the stories on this thread puts another perspective on things, and I wonder how the great Irish writers of the so-called Celtic twilight would qualify this period. There must be someone like a Flann O'Brien to have lampooned a future Ireland where the streets were paved with gold, etc...

A few of the Ross O’Carroll Kelly books got the era spot on.

Kaybaykwah

completedit wrote: »

These are brilliant. A fun time with serious consequences it seems. Maybe we needed to get it out of our system. I think we should bring up the celtic tiger more, the idea of people having 'notions' was cringeworthy a few years ago, but I think it was born out of an awareness of what came before.

From my standpoint, having lived in Dublin in the mid eighties, I remember the shoestring circumstances with affection, but I thought Ireland had something up its sleeve. There were all these young people leaving, educated, talented and wanting to experience life abroad. The same cycle of wash rinse repeat that bled Ireland for like ever, suddenly interrupted, and reversed by positive migration. I wasn't there to experience it, but was pleasantly surprised by the new circumstances when the Canadian media heralded the Celtic Tiger years.

Reading the stories on this thread puts another perspective on things, and I wonder how the great Irish writers of the so-called Celtic twilight would qualify this period. There must be someone like a Flann O'Brien to have lampooned a future Ireland where the streets were paved with gold, etc...

CrankyHaus

I was working in a bookies just before it all come to an end; when "soft landing" and "let's not talk ourselves into a recession" were being bandied around.
The rumour one day was that the Santry shop was down €250,000 in turnover after a single builder who frequented it went bust.

gogo

I left college and joined the Celtic Tiger work force, I worked for a large Irish corporate company in the IT department. I remember we used to leave laptops out on our desks over night, supposed to lock them away but it never happened, and the cleaners would flinch a few now and then... punishment was that you had to buy the team breakfast rolls on a Friday. To think now if a cleaner stole a laptop there would be hell to pay, was considered collateral damage back then and no one really batted an eyelid, only laughed at you for having to buy a couple of breakfast rolls ...
We were often sent down to the basement to ram crow bars into hard drives, used to be hundreds of them, not worth the hassle of wiping and re using. They were crow barred and dumped, I built my first computer from spare parts floating around that office, good times

There was also an office social committee, Thursday night was drinks nights, a regular Thursday night out then would be akin to a Christmas party now, mammoth drinking sessions and paid for by the company. In then and work sick as a pig on a Friday, praying someone had a laptop robbed so you’d get a breakfast roll!

[Deleted User]

I remember being 15 and getting a promotional one visit pass to trial Jackie Skelly fitness at the local shopping centre. Went to visit and a fella probably only about 4 or 5 years older than me was trying to convince me to buy their "Schoolchild rate" membership for 650 a year.
All sorts of suggestions- "ask your parents", "if you don't buy lunch youd easily be able to afford it"

Mental money now that I think of it. Considering how badly equipped this particular one was - a couple of dumbbell racks, a few treadmills/bikes and an open space for abs and stretching. You'd pay less in for a lot more these days.

I believe they became Energie and their corporate rate years later was a lot cheaper than what I was quoted as someone fresh off the junior cert. Such a surreal time.

CBear1993

Nigel Fairservice wrote: »

I remember the banks giving out J1 loans in college. Lads would head over to America and drink all summer and come back broke....and a J1 loan hanging over them.

Sure that still goes on up north, lads take out the 2-3 grand maintenance loan from student finance for the year and no one ever pays it back. I went to Oz after college and never declared myself back in UK since, I have been living in Dublin right enough.

Mad though, surely they’ll clamp down on it, none of the lads in my year have paid there’s. They write it off eventually and it doesn’t affect credit rating for mortgages etc

Tigerpants

I was mostly in college during the Tiger. I was itching to leave and go work in construction. All I wanted was money and the boy racer car!

Stuck it out with college in the end thinking I can have any job I want once I get finished. Graduated into the recession. Had periods of unemployment and underemployment. Terribly depressing. Held back in life because of it. Felt completely disillusioned with everything.

Things have been on the up for me since 2016 with decent wages and job security but it looks like the fallout from Covid has stalled my life again.

Nigel Fairservice

dirkmeister wrote: »

There was a certain bank giving out €800 loans to students interest free back in 2005/6.

Crazy stuff, lads used it to get through RAG week.

I remember the banks giving out J1 loans in college. Lads would head over to America and drink all summer and come back broke....and a J1 loan hanging over them.

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater

Hangdogroad wrote: »

The Sunday Indo hyping z listers like Gavin Lamb Murphy.
The O2 Girls.
Brendan O Connor and his infamous "all the smart ballsy guys are buying property now" column. Great advice Brendan only this was 2007.

Jesus, I almost forgot about that. Here's a link, if anyone is interested;

https://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/the-smart-ballsy-guys-are-buying-up-property-right-now-26307728.html

"Before you make up your mind, open it"

JJJJNR

Remember seeing a hummer going through Bray with a plumber sticker on the side of it, those were the days.

anewme

Was one of those who did ok during Celtic Tiger years. I will always be grateful to the Celtic Tiger Era as I moved from working class to middle class. I went from not being able to pay bin charges to buying a Breitling watch and having a 3 month paid trip to Australia with 1 job change and the SSIA.

No flash spending, but lucky enough to carve out a nice lifestyle. Anyone who did not drop income or lose their job during the subsequent recession has to be almost home and dry now. Sometimes slow and steady can get you there.

The turning point for the Celtic Tiger was definitely Italia 90. It went uphill from there. It showed Irish people that they could take on the world. Such a fantastic time to be young in Ireland.

Motivator

pawdee wrote: »

That's gas. How many of those Mercs were Paddy spec manual C180s with cloth seats though? You'd swear we were living in Monte Carlo the way the media reported on car sales back in those days! Always made me laugh. Don't get me wrong, yours is a good story and I don't doubt one word of it. The helicopter bit is absolutely bonkers!

You know your stuff, bog standard C180s with upgraded alloys and the chrome pack for an extra €1,500. It was all an allusion to reflect The apparent wealth. There’s one unbelievable story and although I never saw it with my own eyes I did see the paperwork to prove it. A well known “hotshot” put an order in for an E Class and he waited about 3 months to get it. The day he picked it up he left the show room at say 10 am. He was back at 2 o clock to trade it in for something better. He picked out an S Class, sold back the E Class (lost about €6,000) after having it for literally a matter of hours and paid an extra €40,000 to get the S Class. Why the change of heart? He met a friend for lunch who saw the E Class and passed some comment along the lines of “the best should drive the best” and it turned him off his top of the range E Class.

To give him his credit, he’s never been shy about looking after his staff and what not but he’s an absolute fanny. Has sunglasses on his head 365 days of the year, even wears them on his head in the pub on a Saturday night.

Ubbquittious

John_Rambo wrote: »

Yeah, there was a lot of talk about how much people were worth. I remember one guy I met through a friend telling me he was a "paper millionaire". Weirdly he was including his parents property (of whom both were still alive and healthy) in his "portfolio".

What an absolute sack of sh1te that fella

John_Rambo

Akabusi wrote: »

I know a guy who set up a pluming business and thought he was billy big balls, had the nice cars and bought several properties, that was all grand but he relished in telling people how rich he was and what he was spending his money on. One of his last big projects was to buy land in the local area and build a mansion on it. The crash came and it never got finished, he owed a lot to local suppliers and they got stung badly, Anyone who could came and stripped the house to get back their items windows, gutters etc. were taken back. It was eventually sold by the bank and got bulldozed. He works in a phone shop now.

Yeah, there was a lot of talk about how much people were worth. I remember one guy I met through a friend telling me he was a "paper millionaire". Weirdly he was including his parents property (of whom both were still alive and healthy) in his "portfolio".

Akabusi

I know a guy who set up a pluming business and thought he was billy big balls, had the nice cars and bought several properties, that was all grand but he relished in telling people how rich he was and what he was spending his money on. One of his last big projects was to buy land in the local area and build a mansion on it. The crash came and it never got finished, he owed a lot to local suppliers and they got stung badly, Anyone who could came and stripped the house to get back their items windows, gutters etc. were taken back. It was eventually sold by the bank and got bulldozed. He works in a phone shop now.

Dr. Bre

I heard stories of knickers being found in offices after parties etc.. Not sure how true tho

irishgeo

AHH yes the memories. I remember looking over the balcony in the pub over the bar and remarking at red bull and vodkas stretching from one end of the bar to the other. Most of them left behind too when the crowd moved on.

Fellas in construction out Thursday Friday Saturday and Sunday and not worried about getting up for work.

I got talking to a men's clothes owner after the Celtic tiger boom died. He claimed the same fellas would be in every Thursday. They lived at home worked in construction. Come in on a Thursday buy a new shirt for the weekend. The following Thursday back in again after destroying the shirt the previous weekend.

Most of the lads emigrated after laughing at me having to go work on a Monday.

Muahahaha

BrianD3 wrote: »

Love the posts about helicopters, a property developer neighbour of mine had one that would regularly takeoff and land in his garden. Not sure if he flew it himself or had a pilot. Anyhow it was "only" a Robinson Just as with cars, there is a hierarchy.

As well as that during the Tiger there was a boom with lads training to become helicopter pilots. Knew one chap who got a bank loan of 100k and paid it over to a flying school in Florida where he said half the class was Irish. Bit of a hard landing for them all when the crash came, puns intended

dotsman

mikemac2 wrote: »

Disagree

Even the Lux residents find it boring.

Now Cologne, best city in Europe!

Sheep Shagger wrote: »

Absolutely - tumble weed after 6pm.

Not meaning to drag the thread off topic, but if you couldn't find great nightlife, you were doing something wrong! Are you sure you weren't out in some suburb/industrial estate?

Just did a lads' weekend there recently and it was perfect. Hotel right bang in the centre (next to the Duke's gaff) and there were far more pubs/clubs within walking distance than you could possibly hope to do in a weekend. Hell, on the Friday night, we did 7 places, all of which were happening, ending up clubbing until 6 in the morning, and we were never more than a 5 minute walk from the hotel. On the Saturday, having spent all afternoon and evening going from place to place drinking (in a different direction from the hotel), found a strip with about a dozen late-night venues all together (think of smaller version of the Munich kuntspark back in the day) which were absolutely jammed with people.

Have also done Cologne recently, and would say Luxembourg surpassed it for nightlife, but agree Cologne is also a great destination. in terms of "quantity and concentration of great (and late opening) drinking venues within a short walk", very few cities would surpass it.

KevRossi

A family near us in Roscommon we’re going to the Galway Races, tried to book a helicopter to fly them there to show off. Whatever way the booking went, they drove to Weston Aerodrome and flew from there to Galway. It would have been much quicker to drive to Galway even with the traffic, than to drive to Dublin.

Flying back they paid some guy extra to drop them off at their house and the father took a taxi to Dublin the next day to pick his car up.

They did it to be noticed. To be fair to them we still talk about it today, usually referring to how mad/stupid they were.

John_Rambo

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

Everyone was buying houses in spain etc ...like five families together owning a place in spain.

One guy I know played a blinder. There were companies offering to take you to Spain to view properties, he had enough money to buy and acted interested. So he basically went on two or three free holidays.

John_Rambo

I was working in advertising agencies throughout the Celtic Tiger. It was crazy. I was on good enough money, but not mad money. It was the credit that was the temptation. I had a house in the city and got lots of letters telling me I was pre-approved for big loans. Loans that could buy foreign property or a serious head turning car. The xmas parties were abroad in places like Barcelona, one of the agencies had a bar which was pretty unusual pre-google and twitter office time.

I was a bit cautious and didn't get stuck in, but I saw lots of cocaine, prostitution, sports cars, Rolex's and overpriced Champaign. I 100% remember lock in nightclubs where anything went. Two people I worked with ended up in prison for cocaine charges, loads of them ended up being reluctant landlords and loads more bought houses for a fortune in areas they wouldn't step foot in five years previously, they're all still stuck with the properties, they all had regular jobs (not in construction). Others remortgaged their houses for amazing holidays, his & hers Audis and a wedding. My boss was on good money and had five or six houses. Affairs were rife amongst senior staff with company credit cards and expensive hotels. "Business" trips abroad were arranged at the drop of a hat.

One memory was locking my (expensive) mountain bike outside work on a Monday morning when a limo pulled up and a colleague hopped out after an all nighter. There were two topless girls in the car. I'm not kidding.

Company credit cards were a joke. I was out with a group for dinner after a sports event and a senior Bank worker paid for everyone on the card. There was about fifteen of us, none of us banked with him or were clients.

Smaller things I noticed were people throwing €1 or €2 coins in to toll bridge baskets and not bothering to get change. Giving bouncers a sly 50 to get in. Executives giving 20's to juniors for a €12 lunch and not asking for change. Little things like not shopping around for car insurance etc...

I remember dating a girl that was giving me hints for her birthday present. She wanted a MG TF! Way out of my budget, but her friends were dating estate agents and property professionals.

I sold my house and the first estate agent arrived in a beautiful Lotus Elise. He told me not to bother putting it on the market and said he'd a cash buyer that would pay within the week. The house sold for 80k more than what he offered.

I indulged in a new hot hatch. First and probably last new car.

ILoveYourVibes

Everyone was buying houses in spain etc ...like five families together owning a place in spain.

pgj2015

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

You wouldn't need the resources of a CIA team to find him online

At least he sorted the hair out.

Atlantic Dawn

pgj2015 wrote: »

I wonder how that guy from Dundalk turned out. state of his hair.

You wouldn't need the resources of a CIA team to find him online