DO they mean us? What a glorious week it was for our captains of industry, the Department of Finance, IDA Ireland and, of course, the politicians clambering over each other to claim as much credit as possible for plucky little Ireland's remarkable economic boom.

From every newsagent's shelf shone the "Europe's Shining Light" edition of The Economist, with the Republic's neon halo standing out against a black background.

"On the face of it, this is one of the most remarkable economic transformations of recent times from basket case to `emerald tiger' in 10 years," the magazine said. "Ireland combines the English language with a zealously proEuropean outlook."

Then came the forecast from the Organisation for Economic Co operation and Development, the influential international think tank. In a survey of the Irish economy, the Paris based boffins said the economy would continue to expand rapidly over the next two years.

There was the weekly betting slip from JP Morgan about who's going to be in EMU: Four weeks ago the Republic was reckoned only to have a 61 per cent chance of getting into the single currency club. One week ago, the figure was 70 per cent. Now it has reached 77 per cent.

And then there was the World Economic Forum 1997 competitiveness list, which saw Ireland jump to number 16, over the heads of Germany and France, from lowly 26.

This last nugget of economic info cut little ice with one director of Allied Irish Banks who remarked privately: "Oh that's all very well, but did you see where Britain is? Number seven!"