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This is the problem with the euro for Irish people - it gives the impression that one has a lot more money than is the case. The Republic is the only one among the 12 member-states of the euro zone where the currency is worth more than the euro, thereby making the conversion amount greater. So, many of us are going to wake up or go to bed—depending on how we celebrate the New Year on Jan. 1—with more money in our accounts, which is probably unusual for most people after a night on the town.

Some people are going to become millionaires overnight—well, those with 787,564 Irish pounds in their piggy banks. That amount in Irish pounds will bring you across the magical EUR1 million barrier. So get saving. You have less than two months. Imagine—a whole spate of millionaires overnight, without having to suffer the nerve-shattering experience of sitting through 15 questions on “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?”

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On the subject of game shows, it might be advisable to get on to “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” before January 1st. Why? Because if after euro day, the million is EUR1 million as opposed to (pounds) 1 million, your winnings are going to be proportionately less than the pre-January 1st, 2002, winners. Unless, of course, the title of the programme is changed to “Who Wants to be a One Million, Two Hundred and Sixty Nine Thousand, Seven Hundred and Thirty Eight euro Winner?”—the euro equivalent of (pounds) 1 million—but that title is not just as catchy, is it?

We may grumble about euro confusion. But spare a thought for our fellow Europeans when they wake up on January 1st. Imagine the momentary feeling of horror an Italian might sense, seeing mere hundreds rather than tens of thousands in his or her bank account. The lack of zeros after the principal figure could be very disconcerting indeed. So, to a certain extent, we Irish can count ourselves lucky—the appearance of having more money is always a much more preferable experience to the feeling of having your savings wiped out.

Of course, the euro will impact on every aspect of our lives. The psychological effects of the introduction of the euro could be enormous. Will pound shops become EUR1.27 shops or will they become euro shops? Gone will be the familiar chant of Moore Street fruit sellers: "Apples, four for a pound."