How Ireland Really Went Bust

The definitive account of the tumultuous events that led to Ireland going broke in 2010 
 
From the night the Irish government guaranteed the debts of Irish banks in September 2008 Ireland was on a one-way road to ruin. 
 
In How Ireland Really Went Bust Matt Cooper, journalist, broadcaster and No 1 bestselling author of Who Really Runs Ireland?, describes the events that climaxed with the arrival of the heavy hitters from the IMF and the ECB in Government Buildings in November 2010 - and he assesses the fall-out of that fateful period in Ireland's recent history. 
 
Drilling deep into the human dramas, the business catastrophes, the economic collapse and the unprecedented political upheaval that characterised the time after the bank bailout, Cooper gets to the heart of what really happened. And he investigates the background of the key decisions and reveals why they were taken, and by whom, to throw new light on a period that changed Ireland forever. 
 
'A considerable piece of work ... read it and weep' Irish Times 
 
'Cooper's previous bestseller Who Really Runs Ireland? was an authoritative and hugely readable account that told you everything you needed to know about who's who in Ireland and the golden circles that linked business and politics for generations. How Ireland Really Went Bust is equally impressive' Irish Independent 
 
'A lively commentary with nuggets galore ... not just readable, but full of surprises' Sunday Independent 
 
'[A] brilliant achievement that should be read by anyone interested in the state of the nation' Evening Herald 
 
'Up-to-the-minute and exhaustive ... [Cooper] knows the players and they talk to him' Sunday Business Post

Superbly readable and insightful ... a must-have

Irish Mail on Sunday on Who Really Runs Ireland?

Highly accessible and akin to a good thriller ... fascinating ... compelling'

Sunday Tribune on Who Really Runs Ireland?

Hugely entertaining as well as instructive

Irish Independent on Who Really Runs Ireland?

In over twenty years as a reporter (Business &amp; Finance, Sunday Business Post, Irish Independent) and editor (Sunday Tribune), and now as a radio presenter (Today FM) and columnist (Sunday Times, Irish Examiner), Matt Cooper has enjoyed access to the most significant people in Irish politics and business. He is in an unrivalled position to assess and interpret the actions of the powerful and their implications for us all.

From the night when the Irish government guaranteed the debts of Irish banks in September 2008, to November 2010 when heavy hitters from the IMF and the ECB arrived in government buildings, Ireland was on a one-way road to ruin. 
 
In How Ireland Really Went Bust Matt Cooper, journalist, broadcaster and No 1 bestselling author of Who Really Runs Ireland?, describes the tumultuous events of that period and he assesses the fall-out and what it means for Ireland's future. Drilling deep into the the economic collapse and the unprecedented political upheaval that characterised the time after the bank bailout and led to a game-changing general election, Cooper gets to the heart of what really happened. He investigates the background of the key decisions and reveals why they were taken, and by whom, to throw new light on a period that has changed Ireland forever.

The story of the elite who led Ireland from bust to boom ... and back again

Who Really Runs Ireland?

The story of the elite who led Ireland from bust to boom ... and back to bust again 
 
Having money and not having it; making it and losing it; using it and misusing it; giving it and taking it ... this is the story of Ireland during the boom, described in jaw-dropping detail in Who Really Runs Ireland? 
 
Leading journalist Matt Cooper identifies the most influential people in Ireland during the Celtic Tiger era, describes how they interacted with each other to mutual benefit, and reveals who were the few to retain their power amid the debris arising from the bursting of the Irish economic bubble. 
 
'Highly accessible and akin to a good thriller ... fascinating ... compelling' Sunday Tribune 
 
'Hugely entertaining as well as instructive' Irish Independent 
 
'Impressive and eminently readable' Irish Times 
 
'An eye-opener ... you might be driven to tears of rage' David McCullagh, RTE 
 
'The detail is riveting ... and a lot of it illuminating'Irish Examiner 
 
'The scale of Cooper's research is highly impressive ... an in-depth reference guide to folly and hubris' Sunday Business Post 
 
'Complex but surprisingly reader-friendly ... a rattling, and frequently horrifying, read' Hot Press 
 
'Superbly readable and insightful ... a must-have' Irish Mail on Sunday

In over twenty years as a reporter (Business &amp; Finance, Sunday Business Post, Irish Independent) and editor (Sunday Tribune), and now as a radio presenter (Today FM) and newspaper opinion columnist (Sunday Times, Irish Examiner), Matt Cooper has enjoyed proximity and access to the most significant people in Irish politics and business, hearing from them and hearing about them from a variety of sources. His depth of experience means he is in an unrivalled position to assess and interpret the actions of the powerful and their implications for us all.

Having money and not having it; making it and losing it; using it and misusing it; giving it and taking it . . . this is the story of Ireland during the boom, described in jaw-dropping detail in Who Really Runs Ireland? 
 
Leading journalist Matt Cooper has consistently broken stories that the powerful would prefer had not been disclosed. Now, he identifies the most powerful people in Ireland during the Celtic Tiger era, describes how they interacted with each other to mutual benefit, and reveals who are the few to retain their power amid the debris arising from the bursting of our economic bubble. 
 
In particular, Cooper focuses on the role of new-found wealth in Ireland and examines how the volume of money sloshing about influenced the exercise of power, sometimes in ways that were to the detriment of the larger society. 
 
Cooper reveals stories you will not have read before, makes the connections you may not have spotted and provides insights and explanations to stories you may have forgotten that uncover what really goes on.

Matt Cooper

An indispensable guide for anyone who wants to understand not just where Michael O'Leary and Ryanair are coming from, but where they are going

A frequently enlightening unauthorised biography ... entertaining

Cooper's book tracks O'Leary's change of attitude towards passengers since 2014. He built his career amid alehouse expletives and wisecracks that should have been enough to make most customers steer clear - were it not for the promise of ever lower prices.

In a world of colourless corporate leaders, Ryanair's aggressive, mouthy chief executive provides catnip for journalists. Cooper, an award-winning Irish writer and reporter, makes the most of the opportunity to dissect his colourful subject.

Matt Cooper explores the recent tough times for the high-profile businessman.

This is an engaging read full of anecdotes, some of which shocked me and made me laugh out loud

Turbulent Times for the Man Who Made Ryanair

September 2017. Ryanair cancels over 700,000 bookings and its powerful PR juggernaut comes shuddering to a halt. For once, the airline's aggressive and flamboyant CEO, Michael O'Leary, is contrite and apologetic. 
 
A month later Ryanair announces increased passenger traffic for October, year-on-year growth and increased profits. Its share price soars. For the moment, it appears, a fundamental shake-up of Europe's biggest airline is off the table. But questions remain about the causes of the debacle and O'Leary's role in it. 
 
Michael O'Leary lifts the veil on the wildly successful and wildly controversial Ryanair CEO. Based on extensive research - including with close associates of O'Leary - the book examines O'Leary's personality, beliefs and obsessions and describes how these have moulded the business he runs. Written by a multi-award-winning journalist and broadcaster, with a thirty-year career covering business and current affairs, it is a fascinating insight into the business behind the man, and the man behind the business.

Michael O'Leary

About us

About Us (Header 4)

Best-Jane-Austen-quotes_Online-Desktop_Penguin

James-Baldwin

Marian-Keyes

haruki-murakami-320×320-1

Richard-Osman

Malorie Blackman

Lisa-Jewell

Charlie-Mackesy

Authors (Header 3)

Children&#039;s

Company

Discover

Fiction

Non-fiction

Penguin Classics

Penguin Shop (Header 5)

Useful links

Work with us

sectionTitle

isEnabled

anchor

anchorLabel

prhuk/featured-book

prhuk/praise-section

maxBooks

showViewMore

prhuk/books-section

hideAuthorAlert

formName

iterableDivision

iterableBrand

buttonText

description

heading

legalText

successHeading

successText

image

alignment

variation

prhuk/email-section

prhuk/series-section

prhuk/biography-section

prhuk/articles-section

prhuk-authors

The perfect gift? A Penguin Shop gift card

Matt Cooper

Praise for Michael O'Leary

An indispensable guide for anyone who wants to understand not just where Michael O'Leary and Ryanair are coming from, but where they are going

A frequently enlightening unauthorised biography ... entertaining

Cooper's book tracks O'Leary's change of attitude towards passengers since 2014. He built his career amid alehouse expletives and wisecracks that should have been enough to make most customers steer clear - were it ...

An indispensable guide for anyone who wants to understand not just where Michael O'Leary and Ryanair are coming from, but where they are going

A frequently enlightening unauthorised biography ... entertaining

Cooper's book tracks O'Leary's change of attitude towards passengers since 2014. He built his career amid alehouse expletives and wisecracks that should have been enough to make most customers steer clear - were it ...

An indispensable guide for anyone who wants to understand not just where Michael O'Leary and Ryanair are coming from, but where they are going

A frequently enlightening unauthorised biography ... entertaining

Cooper's book tracks O'Leary's change of attitude towards passengers since 2014. He built his career amid alehouse expletives and wisecracks that should have been enough to make most customers steer clear - were it ...

Books by Matt Cooper

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter