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

pgj2015 · 18-06-2020 3:28pm

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.

Ger Roe · 18-06-2020 3:31pm

Deleted User wrote: »

"There was something wrong with me" for not at least going for 1 year to Australia.

You were a complete and utter philistine if you did'nt own an iPod mini/classic/etc (Right now I own an iPod Touch 7th Generation - the only iPod that's not regarded as End Of Life by Apple)

"OK, you bought Eircom shares. Stop looking sorry for yourself. Take that look off your face"

Oh yeah... Eircom shares... that was another thing you could not loose on. Buy as many as you can, it's a sure fire winner..... they said...

Said about a company that had totally failed to deliver a proper network infrastructure or service for decades and that we all knew was top heavy with staff working on unsustainable wage deals while observing hopelessly inefficient and strongly union backed work practices. We all knew Eircom was a joke... and we were still persuaded to buy shares in a company that was already owned by the state.. IE ...us.

For many Irish people, that was our first and last dabble in the stock markets - it really helped to stress the fact that it was all a gamble and you needed to be checking every day to decide if you should stay in, or not - ordinary people were not aware or prepared to be engaged in that level of scrutiny. Even the regularly promoted advice declarations from Lord Shane of Ross, wasn't enough to protect us from an ultimate loss.

Sky King · 18-06-2020 3:32pm

Sky King wrote: »

Eddie Hobbs explaining what 'gearing' is to dumb dumbs.

You see, what you do is, see, you borrow €900k on top of your own life savings of €100k and buy a swish gaff for a million... the value of the place will grow by 10% in a year, then you sell it for €1.1M and pay back your loan. Hey presto! You have just doubled your hundred grand in a year!

I can see no risk to this strategy whatsoever.

Just in case anyone thought I was joking....

CrankyHaus · 18-06-2020 3:37pm

Ger Roe wrote: »

Oh yeah... Eircom shares... that was another thing you could not loose on. Buy as many as you can, it's a sure fire winner..... they said...

Said about a company that had totally failed to deliver a proper network infrastructure or service for decades and that we all knew was top heavy with staff working on unsustainable wage deals while observing hopelessly inefficient and strongly union backed work practices. We all knew Eircom was a joke... and we were still persuaded to buy shares in a company that was already owned by the state.. IE ...us.

For many Irish people, that was our first and last dabble in the stock markets - it really helped to stress the fact that it was all a gamble and you needed to be checking every day to decide if you should stay in, or not - ordinary people were not aware or prepared to be engaged in that level of scrutiny. Even the regularly promoted advice declarations from Lord Shane of Ross, wasn't enough to protect us from an ultimate loss.

The heavy rotation advertisements to buy in with everyone singing As Gaelige around the Ringsend Gas Works certainly enticed many. Presumably they were ultimately taxpayer funded? What a scam.

NIMAN · 18-06-2020 3:44pm

Sheep Shagger wrote: »

https://youtu.be/KHcHCcwr3Dg

Thats actually some of the best comedy I've seen on RTE recently.

kingtiger · 18-06-2020 3:46pm

CrankyHaus wrote: »

There was an Episode of MTV's Super Sweet 16, a celebration of retarded excess like that, set in Ireland during the period.

Most Episodes were in places like Bel-Air or Malibu. This one was in Dundalk.

I remember that twat, it's a pity I can't find the video so everyone could marvel at what a little knobend he was

Only thing I can find is this

https://yourock-ie.blogspot.com/2008/03/my-super-sweet-16irl.html?m=1

El_Duderino 09 · 18-06-2020 3:48pm

CrankyHaus wrote: »

Look up the intro on YouTube - beyond parody rip off of the Transpotting intro, complete with Eddie doing a choose... monologue

https://youtu.be/KHcHCcwr3Dg
Oh my god it's a tabloid type show.

It's like the man said (sometimes attributed to Joe Kennedy about selling all his stock before the Wallstreet crach in the 30s "I knew it was time to sell when the shoe-shine boy was telling me what stocks to buy".

That's a show to sell shares to the shoe-shine boys.

NIMAN · 18-06-2020 3:49pm

Wonder where Eddie is now.

seanl77 · 18-06-2020 3:54pm

I bought a house for 90k punts off the plans in 2000, I sold it for quarter of a million euro two years later without ever setting foot in it. Estate agent rang me with the offer, I had no intention of selling it until I heard the figures!
A neighbour built an absolute mansion beside the local golf club, and done the same selling for a 300 k profit, then proceeded to just build again down the road. I applied for a credit card which I just wanted to book flights, the bank sent me one with a 15 thousand limit. I worked in the betting industry then, during Galway race week I used to deposit cash hourly in the bank from the shop. We were so busy with goodwood during the day, that the tills would be full and the staff would have to throw the money on the ground to collect once the race started. You would be regularly tipped back then, often made serious cash if a fancied horse obliged. A lot of people look back at those days and cringe, I personally taught it was hilarious. Just enjoyed myself, but never went mad on property, holiday homes, bmws etc

antimatterx · 18-06-2020 3:58pm

Sky King wrote: »

Just in case anyone thought I was joking....

He was a special type of moron.

Odelay · 18-06-2020 3:58pm

The day the apprentice arrived into work in a Ferrari. That was the height of it for me.

road_high · 18-06-2020 4:26pm

You’d forget some of it, I was only starting in work and working in the public service was not close to the madness.
You really needed to be in construction, leisure, cars, property industries to be exposed to the sheer in sane stuff.
The likes of weddings and races seemed to be where all the vulgarity really came pouring out

El_Duderino 09 · 18-06-2020 4:40pm

antimatterx wrote: »

He was a special type of moron.

I doubt it. He was selling to morons so he had to look like a moron too. It's rare that everyone has money to burn but the boom was one time when that happened. If everyone has money (including morons) then there will be someone ready to take their money.

Sunny Disposition · 18-06-2020 5:00pm

It was such an unstable time, I don't think that many people were that content, although obviously it was much better than the recession. As well as the conspicious consumption there was a lot of instability around, plus huge amounts of booze being drank.

2lazytogetup · 18-06-2020 5:06pm

seanl77 wrote: »

I bought a house for 90k punts off the plans in 2000, I sold it for quarter of a million euro two years later without ever setting foot in it. Estate agent rang me with the offer, I had no intention of selling it until I heard the figures!

so where did you live? if an estate agent offered me a million for my house now, thats no good to me as it means ill have to spend a million to buy another one.

Ipso · 18-06-2020 5:11pm

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

I doubt it. He was selling to morons so he had to look like a moron too. It's rare that everyone has money to burn but the boom was one time when that happened. If everyone has money (including morons) then there will be someone ready to take their money.

Needles to say, he had the last laugh.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.irishtimes.com/business/financial-services/brendan-investments-wound-up-owing-more-than-11m-1.3165556%3fmode=amp

seanl77 · 18-06-2020 5:12pm

2lazytogetup wrote: »

so where did you live? if an estate agent offered me a million for my house now, thats no good to me as it means ill have to spend a million to buy another one.

I just continued to rent, didn't affect me in that regard as I was young and single.
Bought a house in the same estate a decade later, I'm still here!

Ipso · 18-06-2020 5:18pm

2lazytogetup wrote: »

so where did you live? if an estate agent offered me a million for my house now, thats no good to me as it means ill have to spend a million to buy another one.

That was the thing that got to me to. Unless you’re trading down or moving to a cheaper area, selling your main residence for a profit doesn’t mean instant riches.
I worked in Dublin from 2003 to 2008, was never on crazy money and thought the whole thing was a bit dubious. I couldn’t understand how a country that hemorrhaged people via emigration for decades could all of a sudden think that they were The richest country in the world due to buying and selling poorly built houses to each other. It was like a bunch of teenagers found their parents credit cards. The inner snob didn’t take long to surface, either.

SEPT 23 1989 · 18-06-2020 5:22pm

I witnessed a man snorting a line of hot tubs

completedit · 18-06-2020 5:49pm

All I remember was the feeling around the place, it was a toxic time to be a teenager. Great memories but snobbishness was a currency and it seemed like a really cut throat time that seeped down into our minds. Was a terrible environment to grow up in.

antgal23 · 18-06-2020 6:03pm

View from up North

ca 2000 - walked into a shopping centre and lady stops and says " Do you wanna credit card? " " Yes, but I work abroad" " No problem, we'll sort that"

2 k later

2003 - Got a mortgage with 15 k deposit and I didn't have a full-time job, bar tender £150 a week

20005 - on holidays near Dublin - walked into local Centra and prices were thru the roof - fancy cheeses, prawns and wines. Now they sell three bags of apples for two Euro

corner of hells · 18-06-2020 6:28pm

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

I witnessed a man snorting a line of hot tubs

I saw a bloke wearing a jacket made out of decking.

18-06-2020 6:31pm

Am I remembering correctly that there were Nitelinks most days of the week ?

griffin100 · 18-06-2020 6:32pm

I was self employed for a couple of years at the height of the Celtic Tiger around 2003. I worked about 2-3 days a week and pulled in over €250k in two years doing safety and environmental consultancy. People paid nuts money for work .

I remember being asked to do a piece of subcontracted work for a much larger consultancy. I didn’t want to do it so quoted €5k for what was about a days work from my home office and told them I wasn’t available for another 6 weeks. Six weeks later I got an 8am call from them agreeing to the fee. I was paid €5k for what ended up being a simple piece of work, and they continued to use me paying stupid money until the crash hit (at which stage I had entered the public service).

It was a mad time when the value of money meant nothing. I regularly had my credit card limits doubled whenever I asked for an increase. I remember MBNA doubling a credit limit from €16k to €32k on one of three cards I had with them via text - no need to speak to anyone. At one stage I think I had just under €50k in credit available across 3 MBNA cards, and that wasn’t counting what I had on my BOI card.

sunnysoutheast · 18-06-2020 6:32pm

Knew someone who bought four luxury condos in Florida off-plan with a huge loan. Not even sure they ever got built, certainly he got no income from them. Emigrated leaving a massive financial mess.

We also got mortgage approval for near enough 300% of the amount we asked for!

iamstop · 18-06-2020 6:45pm

5555555555 wrote: »

Am I remembering correctly that there were Nitelinks most days of the week ?

Yes, and they had 'Champaign' service. But tbh most of us could tell is was actually not Champaign but a mid priced Moscato instead. The cheek.

18-06-2020 6:57pm

Except Christmas Day, Bank Holidays were no real problem for anybody in particular. You could still buy anything you wanted in a Bricks & Mortar shop.

SEPT 23 1989 · 18-06-2020 7:02pm

If you could sign your name or even make your mark you got a mortgage or loan

Sheep Shagger · 18-06-2020 7:18pm

ATMs that only dispensed €50 notes...

While not everyones cup of tea, David McWilliams 'the popes children's is pretty bang on (book and tv doco).

BBC did a good doco too at the time,isn't on YouTube either.

This one ain't bad from RTE https://youtu.be/ZSeJITHmDWQ

We look back and laugh (or cry) but as night follows day, history is always repeated. Maybe a bit different but essentially the same.

irishguitarlad · 18-06-2020 7:25pm

Celtic Tiger nights, Celtic tiger dreams

Better Than Christ · 18-06-2020 7:41pm

5555555555 wrote: »

Am I remembering correctly that there were Nitelinks most days of the week ?

At the height of the madness, the Nitelinks ran all day, every day.

Sheep Shagger · 18-06-2020 7:52pm

Better Than Christ wrote: »

At the height of the madness, the Nitelinks ran all day, every day.

Nightlinks during the day?

Better Than Christ · 18-06-2020 7:59pm

Sheep Shagger wrote: »

Nightlinks during the day?

Yes. All day, every day.

Odelay · 18-06-2020 8:01pm

I don't know what a Nitelink is.

Motivator · 18-06-2020 8:02pm

I worked in a Mercedes dealership Friday’s and Saturday’s when I was in second year in college. I took the first two weeks of January off college because the dealership was so busy, all I was doing was registering the new cars and sorting the warranty’s all day every day. January 2005 if I remember correctly the main salesman in the dealership made €100,000+ in commission alone that month. It was unbelievable, I remember factory workers and Hairdressers coming in to buy his and hers Mercs.

That summer, 4 of the mechanics rented a helicopter to go to the Derby at the Curragh. €2,000 each!

completedit · 18-06-2020 8:22pm

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.

FixdePitchmark · 18-06-2020 8:25pm

I remember champagne and strawberries - was at a few house parties and they had actual caterers and lads going around asking you what drink you want. Actual service.

Going to Vegas / New York for a long weekend - wasn't totally out of the question. Aer Lingus put on a direct flight to vegas.

mikemac2 · 18-06-2020 8:33pm

dotsman wrote: »

Luxembourg is one of the best cities in Europe for a lad's weekend. Absolutely nothing boring about it.

Disagree

Even the Lux residents find it boring.

Now Cologne, best city in Europe!

FixdePitchmark · 18-06-2020 9:00pm

2lazytogetup wrote: »

inflation was rampant, everytime i went to the shops, the cost of everything was going up.

i think alot of the spending was because everyone else was spending. if the jones were buying a bulgarian property, why werent you. if they were going to new york for a shopping trip, you felt left out if you didnt do the same.

herd mentality. i think there is a deep psychological element to it. i feel jealous when i see them all going to electric picnic every year. and i know if i go, i would hate it.

I've always been very careful with money - but the pressure from people to "get in on the property game" - "to get on the ladder" - "don't waste your time in a public sector job" - " drive a proper car" - " get a small place in wexford" - "get a place in Spain". Bulgaria the next place - Eddie Hobbs and Cape Vede - like how the **** do you even get there.

You were either " a player" or not.

It was a strange time - and so much of the above pressure was coming from people much older like parents or uncles.

Outdoor hot tubs and decking - and completely unsuitable gas heaters and outdoor furniture - were the final throws.

Strange times - the parties were fantastic , once you were not the clown (in the PINK shirt) paying for them.

Many of the relationships and marriages were built on things as opposed to good foundations. Very fake situations were the norm.

It was sort of a Lad culture - except the women were onboard and as bad.

I enjoyed a good bit of it , but thank God I wasn't a player in the property area.

BUT - was there any real consequences for people who bought into it all in the end. They all seem to be nearly going for it again ?

Some just want the big life.

Unknownability · 18-06-2020 9:22pm

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

I remember champagne and strawberries - was at a few house parties and they had actual caterers and lads going around asking you what drink you want. Actual service.

Going to Vegas / New York for a long weekend - wasn't totally out of the question. Aer Lingus put on a direct flight to vegas.

Aer Lingus never had a regular service to Las Vegas.

FixdePitchmark · 18-06-2020 9:26pm

Unknownability wrote: »

Aer Lingus never had a regular service to Las Vegas.

Your right it was LA - then car from there, all in a long weekend.

Ipso · 18-06-2020 9:30pm

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

I've always been very careful with money - but the pressure from people to "get in on the property game" - "to get on the ladder" - "don't waste your time in a public sector job" - " drive a proper car" - " get a small place in wexford" - "get a place in Spain". Bulgaria the next place - Eddie Hobbs and Cape Vede - like how the **** do you even get there.

You were either " a player" or not.

It was a strange time - and so much of the above pressure was coming from people much older like parents or uncles.

Outdoor hot tubs and decking - and completely unsuitable gas heaters and outdoor furniture - were the final throws.

Strange times - the parties were fantastic , once you were not the clown (in the PINK shirt) paying for them.

Many of the relationships and marriages were built on things as opposed to good foundations. Very fake situations were the norm.

It was sort of a Lad culture - except the women were onboard and as bad.

I enjoyed a good bit of it , but thank God I wasn't a player in the property area.

BUT - was there any real consequences for people who bought into it all in the end. They all seem to be nearly going for it again ?

Some just want the big life.

Still, it was d’banks fault

Better Than Christ · 18-06-2020 9:31pm

Unknownability wrote: »

Aer Lingus never had a regular service to Las Vegas.

Yeah, I think it was Bus Éireann who ran the Las Vegas service. You had to change at Athlone, if I remember correctly, so it wasn't direct.

jay0109 · 18-06-2020 9:34pm

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

BUT - was there any real consequences for people who bought into it all in the end. They all seem to be nearly going for it again ?

Some just want the big life.

You've never written truer words. It mostly feels like the fools were those who didn't spend and go mad

FixdePitchmark · 18-06-2020 9:34pm

Ipso wrote: »

Still, it was d’banks fault

Well the cash was from a global liberation of borrowing.

So - yes the banks and lack of regulation were a massive factor.

But - I think personality played a part too.

completedit · 18-06-2020 9:35pm

Ipso wrote: »

Still, it was d’banks fault

It was. Cheap credit and financial deregulation. Low interest rates set by ECB to suit German exports. Combine that with nouveau rich attitude to money and the rest is history.

We need good people at the helm to mitigate against the behavior of bewildered herd. Someone needed to cool down the economy but obviously we couldn't since the interest rate wasn't decided by us. Assets prices skyrocketing, people felt rich, the money flowed. Something needed to be done to curb it. I never would blame the ordinary person. Especially in a country like Ireland. We were like one of those binmen who wins the lottery and spends it all on coke and hookers. Somehow, we didn't lose everything. Arguably, and this is just my theory but the feel good period induced a lot of businesses to Ireland. Without that boom, maybe the lure wouldn't have been as strong. Ireland in the celtic tiger sounded like a good place to be when you were in it. We went from conservative to liberal within 1 generation(for better or worse depending on perspective). The boom arguably facilitated that. Nothing like excess in this life to make you forget salvation in the next.

Sultan of Bling · 18-06-2020 9:38pm

And the public sector.

ILoveYourVibes · 18-06-2020 9:39pm

I have a confession to make.

One day ..i wandered through the forest ..and i ate baby tiger's porridge! The WHOLE LOT OF IT....and baby Tiger LOVES porridge!

That is my story.....I don't understand money.

andekwarhola · 18-06-2020 9:39pm

I just kept working, living my life and raising my kids but for the purposes of the thread:

Breakfast Roll
Decking

Sneering
Living with Parents

Am I doing this right?

FixdePitchmark · 18-06-2020 9:41pm

Look at Ivan Yates - went to Wales , came back .

All Late Late and was going on as if we should all feel sorry for him as we all had > 25 % pay cuts and still have USC -10 years + on.

Now pontificates to us all - all day.

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

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