The View from the High Street

Recessions are never fun - no matter which high street you're trading on.

The UK economy may have green shoots of recovery, but spare a thought for retailers in the Republic of Ireland, where town centres are very chilly places. Some have already died.

But Dundalk soldiers on. Situated close to the border with Northern Ireland, the town has suffered the combined blows of Ireland's economic collapse and a weak pound legal tender just 10 minutes up the new motorway. If that wasn't enough, VAT in the Republic stands at 21% and changes to PPS (our National Insurance equivalent) have stopped grants to customers of up to €85 for buying new glasses.