Like most national museums and galleries,
Ireland's
National Botanic Gardens is free to visit. We filled
a gorgeous May day strolling around the outdoor gardens,
arboretum and green houses (photos below). It was also interesting
to see posters referring to the national referendum on the
European Fiscal Compact (otherwise known as the treaty on
stability or the austerity treaty...depending on who
you're talking to) around Dublin.
As an Irish citizen but not a resident I wasn't able to cast a vote but if I had it would have been a no as such severe restricting of spending only leads to a downward spiral for already aidling economies (Read the Guardian article on Why Europe's fiscal compact is bound to fail.). Unfortunately, the Irish electorate (the half of them who showed up at the polls) voted 60% to 40% to ratify the EU fiscal pact. I can only hope some sea change re. European austerity occurs regardless because at this point the Irish "unemployment rate has hit its highest level since the country's financial crisis began." A whopping 14.8%.
As an Irish citizen but not a resident I wasn't able to cast a vote but if I had it would have been a no as such severe restricting of spending only leads to a downward spiral for already aidling economies (Read the Guardian article on Why Europe's fiscal compact is bound to fail.). Unfortunately, the Irish electorate (the half of them who showed up at the polls) voted 60% to 40% to ratify the EU fiscal pact. I can only hope some sea change re. European austerity occurs regardless because at this point the Irish "unemployment rate has hit its highest level since the country's financial crisis began." A whopping 14.8%.
