THE Oxford Club likes the look of Irish shares. So who's the Oxford Club? Based in Maryland, it prides itself as a very august organisation whose membership's core values are "family, tradition, wealth, privacy and freedom". In other words, it's a rich man's investment club whose members have lots of money to invest.

"Golden Opportunities in the Emerald Isle," gushes an article in the club's February newsletter, which uses terms like "economic renaissance" and "a tax haven in disguise" to describe our little island.

Emphasising the tax-free nature of overseas earnings by Irish residents, the newsletter goes into rhapsodies about "the beauty of living there".

An Post gets a handy plug for its savings certs and bonds while Willy Cotter and Chris Reilly in Bank of Ireland Asset Management will no doubt be pleased that the club recommends its well-heeled members to put 10 per cent of their portfolio into BIAM's New York-quoted Irish Investment Fund.