A series of news stories have gripped Ireland in recent weeks.
Public anger is growing over the government's bailout of financially troubled Anglo-Irish Bank (the bank lost 12.7 billion Euros (about 17 billion dollars) in 15 months -- the largest loss in Irish corporate history), the Catholic Church is under increasinged scrutiny as clerical sex abuse allegations continue to mount and Ireland had 110,400 fewer overseas visitors in January 2010 than in the same month last year.
None of these stories topped the morning news on Irish radio today -- we listened online at breakfast.
No, the top story in the whole of Ireland is that pubs in Limerick may open on Good Friday for the first time. They have received special Good Friday dispensation because of a rugby match.
Good Friday and Christmas Day have always remained "dry" in Ireland.
However, opening the pubs while home team Munster hosts Leinster tonight could generate a healthy boost to Limerick's economy -- struggling since the closure of a Dell computer plant.
One of our satellite television channels will broadcast the Munster-Leinster match, so I DVR'd it to watch tonight. I want to see what all the fuss is about.