What’s with the Irish Times obsession with €10 notes?

Have to laugh at the Irish Times Index on a Saturday sometimes. Previously they bemoaned the fact that ATMs weren’t dispensing €10 notes. This week there was a happy dance by the compiler of the list indicating that machines were churning out tenners again.

A couple of things spring to mind on this topic. First off, who in their right mind would go to an ATM and just get out €10? A cup of tea, sandwich and a newspaper in the morning and you’re down €6 already. If someone takes out €10 they’re just living in dream world about spending money in the first place. Sensible types will take out enough cash for the week in one transaction. Since the banks charge for an ATM transaction, doing it one go is less money for the bank in fees – a good thing surely.

The oddest thing about the Irish Times obsession about €10 notes is the fact it’s the very newspaper that is supposedly read by the cream of Irish society. The managers, doctors, stock traders, bankers and cigar smokers of Ireland. These people hardly have to concern themselves about pissy €10 notes. They blow their noses in tenners and wipe their arses with twenties. As for the humble €5, perfect for geting a good fire going. Really, the only notes they recognise are €50s and €100s.

Want more evidence of the Irish Times demographic? How about the monthly supplement “The Gloss”. It positively drips excess with such items as €20,000 watches and €5,000 coats. They hardly print it just for the laugh. They print it because the majority of their readers could actually afford such items. But then, maybe the issue of €10 notes is relevant to the readership when making up the wages of their home help/nanny/slave.