| I shop therefore I am? As Ireland's largest | | | | qualifying group. More disappointing than |
| shopping centre opened in Dundrum | | | | the failure to make the grade was the |
| | | | |
| and consumer spending rocketed across the | | | | manner in which the team rolled over to have |
| country, 2005 was a year in which our | | | | its belly tickled by unconvincing |
| | | | |
| love affair with brands showed little signs | | | | opponents in a group that many felt was |
| of abating.Whilst H&M, House of Fraser, | | | | there for the taking. Since long before the |
| Harvey Nichols and Starbucks arrived to great | | | | |
| | | | Charlton era, the Irish soccer brand has |
| | | | been about courage in the face of |
| fanfare, proving in the early months at | | | | |
| least that absence does make the purse and | | | | overwhelming odds, what the poet Yeats |
| | | | called the "hurling of the little streets |
| wallet grow fonder, there was little to | | | | upon |
| suggest that our familiarity with traditional | | | | |
| | | | the great" and, in the past, a tragic |
| | | | failure to qualify, allied to a show of |
| home-grown retailers was breeding anything | | | | steely, |
| other than a continued willingness to | | | | |
| | | | native pluck, has simply added to the |
| spend, spend, spend (along with contempt for | | | | national sense of having won a moral victory. |
| the worried soundings from | | | | |
| | | | |
| economic commentators who suggested that our | | | | Deprived of victory of any sort this time |
| splurging may be just about to | | | | round, the Irish supporter felt cheated by |
| | | | |
| spiral out of control).In the midst of this | | | | what he saw as the team's betrayal of core |
| extended retail love-in, it was easy to | | | | values.On the world scene, the big brand |
| forget that, more | | | | stories of the year were largely taking place |
| | | | |
| and more, the great Irish romance is in | | | | |
| property, and a few Irish brand giants, | | | | on the Internet. Confidence in the medium |
| | | | returned to levels unseen since before |
| including the likes of Superquinn and Jurys | | | | |
| Ballsbridge, were sweet-talked by buyers | | | | the bubble burst with names such as eBay and |
| | | | Google growing in stature, |
| who seemed to place greater value on the | | | | |
| property bank they had collected than on | | | | value and reach through the year. The |
| | | | announcement in early December by the |
| any goodwill they had built up over many | | | | |
| years of trading.Goodwill was severely | | | | Oxford University Press that their 'Word of |
| rationed on board another domestic brand, | | | | the Year' was 'podcast' (what they defined |
| Irish Ferries, | | | | |
| | | | as, "a digital recording of a radio |
| whose troubles quickly became a rallying | | | | broadcast or similar program, made available |
| point for Irish workers concerned about | | | | on |
| | | | |
| how the economy is shaping up on wages and | | | | the internet for downloading to a personal |
| conditions of employment. Whilst a | | | | audio player") confirmed both Apple's |
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| deal of sorts has been thrashed out, public | | | | continued resurgence on the back of their |
| reaction on the streets of our cities | | | | iPod success of the previous year, as well |
| | | | |
| would suggest that the brand has been badly | | | | as the growing popularity of the internet as |
| holed beneath the water line and will | | | | both communications and commercial |
| | | | |
| do well to stay afloat in the new | | | | arena.We were also treated to a new brand of |
| year.Meanwhile, the three Irish airlines | | | | papacy, with the man formerly known |
| soared even higher than their tenor | | | | |
| | | | as 'God's rottweiler' stepping into a role |
| counterparts (who enjoyed their own brand of | | | | that had been indelibly made his own by |
| success during the year). Aer Lingus, | | | | |
| | | | one of the twentieth century's most |
| Aer Arann and Ryanair, continued to fly high | | | | charismatic figures. From a PR perspective, |
| with each of the three adding more | | | | |
| | | | Benedict XVI handled his own elevation most |
| routes to their already extensive European | | | | skilfully, presenting himself in contrast |
| networks. Each of the airlines operates | | | | |
| | | | to "the great John Paul II" as a "simple, |
| from a hugely different brand model (chalk, | | | | humble worker in the vineyard of the Lord". |
| cheese and charcoal?) and their success | | | | |
| | | | Despite this rather meek language, the early |
| offers a timely reminder that there is | | | | signs are that, far from hiding in the |
| plenty of airspace for players in any sector | | | | |
| who | | | | shadow of his predecessor, this Pope is |
| | | | ready to surprise his detractors by showing |
| are prepared to define a market and stand | | | | |
| squarely for something.Irish politicians | | | | an unexpected lightness of touch in his |
| branded themselves with a vengeance in 2005, | | | | public dealings whilst asserting his own, |
| with Enda | | | | |
| | | | distinctive leadership style.On the big |
| Kenny finally showing signs of breaking free | | | | screen, brand was king, with leading box |
| from the muddled and indistinct image | | | | office contenders King |
| | | | |
| that had mired previous leaders of his | | | | Kong, Harry Potter and Narnia displaying all |
| party. In the meantime, the man whose | | | | that we expect of the great brands: the |
| | | | |
| position he covets tried on some socialist | | | | powerful story of a compelling hero, vividly |
| characteristics for size and found that red | | | | told for a contemporary audience. That |
| | | | |
| simply didn't match the shades of green his | | | | none of this is any accident is evident in |
| party usually favours.Meanwhile, Irish soccer | | | | the words of Philip Boyens, screenwriter for |
| supporters turned various shades as the | | | | |
| national team | | | | the remake of King Kong: "This is a classic |
| | | | story and it can withstand many |
| turned in a series of insipid performances | | | | |
| en route to a third place finish in their | | | | retellings. |
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