Fly Away Home

Four hundred years ago, Rory O'Donnell and Hugh O'Neill fled from Ireland and found refuge in France.

Along with the soldiers who followed them into exile, they fought for the country that gave them shelter at a time when England was trying to force everyone into the Anglican fold.

Patrick Sarsfield was one of the Wild Geese who flew from his native land after the Jacobites were defeated. His troops became France's "Irish Brigade", men who distinguished themselves in the countless battles of the Seventeenth Century.

Now it seems that the French are in search of refuge, preparing to take flight from Francois Hollande and his promises of a 75% tax rate.

There are plenty of empty houses in Ireland, erected during the boom years and now abandoned. Finding a new home would be easy.

Any French millionaires who require a safe haven are welcome to move to Ireland.

It's all part of the European Union so travel is as easy as booking a flight on RyanAir. The food isn't so grand as what you might find in Paris, but when you can jet into the city for less than 50 euro, what could be better?

You'd be saving plenty of money on your taxes, as compared to giving up most of what you earn to a gaggle of lazy sots who want the government to give them lots of free stuff that you'd be paying for.

Perhaps M. Hollande didn't take into consideration the ease of movement for residents of the EU when he promised to soak the rich. They've been making noise about going away and keeping their money for their own uses, which might put a crimp in the financial plans going forward.

So come to Ireland.

It's the least the nation can do for residents of the land that took in the Wild Geese. Some tax credits for purchasing foreclosed homes, perhaps? A bonus for moving money into one of Ireland's troubled banks that are in need of further capitalization?

Surely someone sitting in the Dail can get creative, just like they got creative when they dropped the corporate tax rate and brought a windfall to the Exchequer.

France's millionaires are looking for a place to go, just like the Wild Geese. Time for Ireland to return some old favors.