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The author, Miles Mathis, reflects on Ireland following St. Patrick’s Day and Conor McGregor’s visit to the White House. He raises the question of why Ireland has not replanted its forests, noting that the island, once 80% forests, is now around 10%, with most new trees being spruces for harvest. While the British are blamed for deforestation, the author criticizes the Irish for their lack of initiative in replanting over the past century, attributing it to a general apathy and focus on leisure activities like drinking Guinness and playing fiddles.
Mathis recounts a negative experience in Galway, Ireland in 2007 when he considered moving there after living in Bruges, Belgium. He found poorly constructed and overpriced housing, a lack of old architecture, and a generally uninspiring art scene, with the locals seeming apathetic. He compares Ireland to a “microcosm of the modern malaise,” noting its “third-world feel” in 2007 with plumbing issues and power outages, a decline he also observes in California.
The author argues that replanting forests is a simple solution that governments, like Ireland’s, should undertake, suggesting that funds spent on EU military budgets could be redirected to tree planting. He believes this could have a ripple effect, potentially revitalizing initiative. Mathis extends this idea of “replanting” to other areas, including art history, sciences, media, and government, suggesting a complete overhaul is needed. He concludes with a personal anecdote about experiencing a surprising amount of “luck” in Ireland, including two holes-in-one on a Galway golf course, which the local attendant dismissed.
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