People in Ireland need to remember sometimes we live in a “really special country”, Shane Coleman has said. 

Reflecting on the state of the nation, he told Newstalk Breakfast listeners it can be “easy” to be negative after the events of recent weeks. 

Despite this, Shane feels there are many reasons to feel positive as well. 

“I found it really inspirational yesterday watching the coverage of the thousands of new Irish people who got their citizenship yesterday,” he said. 

“From, I think, it was 131 countries across the globe. 

“I am old enough to remember when I left college in 1990, I think there were 180 in my class, I think 90% left. 

“The ones who stayed behind were absolutely the exceptions.” 

'Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that we live in a very special country.' What are your reasons for being cheerful this Christmas?@NTBreakfast pic.twitter.com/dJ0CNtW9ZD

— NewstalkFM (@NewstalkFM) December 19, 2023

Shane said there is a “palpable buzz” when he goes out in Dublin in the evening - in stark contrast to his youth. 

“Sometimes I think we need to remind ourselves we live in a really special country and we are blessed in a benign, prosperous and liberal democracy,” he said. 

“Maybe we sometimes need to remember these are good times as well.” 

'The real Ireland'

Co -presenter Jonathan Healy said it is “in our nature” to talk up the negative after seeing things like riots but he too believes there is much to take heart from. 

“We don’t celebrate as much the good things that we have in our society,” he said. 

“On the night of those riots, I happened to be with a large group of hoteliers at an award ceremony. 

“That, obviously, put a pall over the evening and what was most heartening, all of those people, their first instinct wasn’t the property, it was the people who were working in those properties and whether they were safe.

“In particular, those people who weren’t born on the island of Ireland were safe.”

To Jonathan, it was that concern for others that represents “the real Ireland”, a place “of compassion and spirit”.

Main image: Shane Coleman.