Netherland by Joseph O' Neill

My Hero

Bit of a no-brainer, but Barack Obama, and the Americans who voted for him.

My villain

I don't know where to start. The likes of Bertie Ahern and Seanie FitzPatrick are the public faces of our ruination, but many others are up to their necks in it. The financial regulator, Patrick Neary, for sitting back, public servants, such as Rody Molloy, on ego trips , Mary Harney for scoffing at us that the country was "awash with money"... the list goes on.

My low point

Right now, sadly.

Best invention

It has to be the Google search engine.

If i could change one thing

I'd have popped the Irish property bubble. And I'd have invited the Germans to run the country when things were overheating.

Work of art/book/song

Internationally, I would say the novel Netherland by Joseph O'Neill. It sums up the mood of stunned bafflement and hope that followed 9/11. For Ireland, Bad Day in Blackrock by Kevin Power speaks volumes about the attitudes that prevailed amongst the ruling class of this country and which turned it sour.

My happiest time

On 19 October, 2001 when Faber and Faber agreed to publish me.

My greatest hope

I sincerely hope that my age group isn't comprehensively demolished by having been saddled with negative equity, unemployment and a massive national debt.