The spirit that moved Eire to declare her independence moved two of her western isles to assert their own independence of Eire. For 40 years the 200 fisherfolk of Turn and Turbot have maintained an "untaxable republic," refusing to pay taxes to County Galway on the mainland.
Last week, as often before, Galway Council sent the bailiffs to Turn and Turbot to collect £12,000 ($48,000) in back taxes.
But the bailiffs were baffled again. Nobody was home. Every house was silent. The cattle had been turned out on the common where they could not be seized. The previous night, every Turner and Turboter had shoved off together to "visit relatives" in Aran, 25 miles away.
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