Madam, – In view of the present economic crisis, some reform is badly needed. I’m suggesting we change our currency to a new unit though still linked to the euro. Let’s call it the Gombeen symbolised thus: G€ (using the old Irish G). If anyone queries the design, we can always claim it’s from the Book of Kells. The plural would be Gombíní, which I feel has a lovely Mediterranean ring to it, suggesting a relaxed, cavalier attitude to matters financial. Indeed, given the alacrity with which certain members of society scarper to sunnier climes, having become rich overnight, the connection is not inappropriate (and I’m not referring to drug barons).
The harp would disappear from our coinage, to be replaced by the flexible fiddle, after all, the former has too many connotations of exclusive concert halls, and the drawing rooms of great houses, a symbol not in keeping with the times, whereas the dolorous whine of the humble fiddle, would be best suited to our new national anthem, “Here on a shoe-string”. – Yours, etc,