The Pope's children live long and prosper

Today's New York Times returns to its favourite small European country -- the Republic of Ireland -- with a nice roundup of the demographic stresses and strains of rapid growth. The micro perspective is provided by a visit to east Meath, specifically the notorious situation with the lack of a proper primary school in Laytown. The macro perspective is provided by quotes from the usual suspects, including David McWilliams. One irony which we don't know if he's pursued is that his book title, The Pope's Children, should perhaps refer to the Polish immigrants as much as the native born Irish who crowded in as toddlers in the Phoenix Park all those years ago.