Welcome to FreeRepublic.com.
I presume you found this thread via a search engine and thus may not be familiar with FreeRepublic.com. Don't mind some of the denizens of this site, we're all a little prone to overstatement here but in general, you will find no better news and analysis site on the internet.
Keep in mind that much of the news that comes out of Europe and Ireland these days is anti-American. As someone who knows plenty of Irish in Ireland, I know that much of the populace is not in agreement with much of the journalism. The same can certainly be said for the American press and Americans.
Two of your fellow countrymen frequent the site and I have "Bumped" (put their names in the To list) them to this thread.
Look around and enjoy. Again, you'll find no better craic on the Internet!
Thanks for the ping Incorrigible.
Hey, Cillmaintain - how's Wicklow treatin' ye?
Always good to have a few more native Irish Freepers on board. :-)