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Britain is out of the EU: It might be the right time to plan that shopping trip to the North

The pound is at its lowest point for thirty years, meaning shopping is now cheaper north of the border.

IT WAS THE result that almost no one thought would happen.

Now that Brexit has gone through, the UK has been swept up in whirlwind of confusion – with uncertainty about the country’s economic future and dealings with the EU.

The immediate aftermath of the vote has seen sterling plummet to its lowest point since 1985.

This could well have a negative impact on Ireland’s economy.

It is unclear at the moment how big a fallout there will be, and Irish politicians have highlighted trade and agriculture as potentially problematic.

Right now however, the battering the pound has taken makes it an opportune time for a shopping trip North of the border.

How much difference does it make?

Back at the end of last year, there wasn’t a whole lot of value to crossing the border.

After the threatened withdrawal of Greece from the eurozone in the Spring of 2015, the euro was in the doldrums – and in July 2015 it hit an eight-year low against the pound, buying just 69p.

All that seems a long time ago now, and shopping trips to Newry and Belfast are back on the agenda for anyone looking for a bargain (assuming, of course, a border hasn’t been erected by the time you get around to making the trip).

Earlier today, online currency tracker XE.com was listing the euro as buying 83 pence on the pound.

currency The euro hitting a high point earlier today XE.com XE.com

While this downturn in the value of the UK’s currency may be short term, research has shown that a number of products may end up costing less in the long-run in a UK outside of the EU.

A 2013 report from the House of Commons library showed that consumer products like clothes could end up costing less, as the government would be able to set its own tariffs on products coming in from outside the EU.

Read: Brexit fallout – now Spain says it’s close to taking back Gibraltar

Also: BREXIT: The UK has voted to leave the European Union

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32 Comments
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    Mute Daniel Morrissey
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    Apr 17th 2021, 12:20 AM

    Roll on the 26th change…. yawn…

    62
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    Mute Anna Carr
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    Apr 17th 2021, 12:56 AM

    @Daniel Morrissey: lol. I know how you feel. How many bloomin people over 65 are in the country. They seem to go on forever hahaha

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    Mute Peter McGlynn
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    Apr 17th 2021, 1:12 AM

    @Anna Carr: I don’t know how many. How many people voted Fianna Fáil? In or around that amount.

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    Mute Ger
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    Apr 17th 2021, 3:06 AM

    @Anna Carr: it literally tells you in the article

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    Mute Paul Gorry
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    Apr 17th 2021, 3:16 AM

    @Ger: ah lighten up ger her comment was tongue in cheek jayus what are you not seeing there?

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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    Apr 17th 2021, 5:13 AM

    @Daniel Morrissey: well yeah, can’t make them deliver it faster or make it ourselves so that’s what we have to do.

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    Mute Anto Curran
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    Apr 17th 2021, 8:00 AM

    @Peter McGlynn: obsessed with FF. Unless you’re playing an online game where you can try to fit FF into every comments section?

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    Mute Barbara Stewart
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    Apr 17th 2021, 11:55 AM

    @Anna Carr: Sorry for being 69 and delaying your vaccination….I could have said the same about all over 70s but I have a bit more respect!!!

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    Mute Tony Humphreys
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    Apr 17th 2021, 1:54 AM

    You lost me at the word ‘plan’. I always thought they there was only one plan – lockdown. Why do something when you can get away with nothing.

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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    Apr 17th 2021, 5:14 AM

    @Tony Humphreys: well you thought wrong and then refused to think about it anymore

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    Mute Keith Richardson
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    Apr 17th 2021, 1:54 PM

    @Dave O’Keeffe: well there is no published plan on reopening. I’m sure there’s one on a desk somewhere. If people were treated like adults and told this then there would be increased confidence.

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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    Apr 18th 2021, 5:32 AM

    @Keith Richardson: no, if there was a widely publicised plan with an unpredictable pandemic and unreliable delivery schedules any changes would undermine the confidence you claim it would bring.

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    Mute Tarraing Mo Liathróidí
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    Apr 17th 2021, 8:02 AM

    The fact we still likely won’t restart tourism and hospitality till June or July is just mind boggling, especially given the fact MM despite some who said it was lies when I pointed out that leaky Leo said the same thing, that he can’t say we won’t go into another lockdown after this one. And given the fact the hse management seem to have done nothing except allow the waiting list balloon and get themselves a pay rise, any extra surge from even a few covid cases over the winter months makes this likely since they now have a great excuse to cover up they barely cope any winter before covid hit. So this means a lot of small businesses and retail included as well may only have a small window to open and make some much needed money, meanwhile north will be full steam ahead open end of May.

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    Mute Siobhan Rosemary
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    Apr 17th 2021, 8:35 AM

    So the AstraZeneca isnt safe to use on under 60s but is safe for under 60s who received 1st dose?? Think il pass on the second thanks. Back of the que I go lol

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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    Apr 18th 2021, 5:34 AM

    @Siobhan Rosemary: that silly. 1 in a million died of a blood clot that nobody knew to be looking for. That’s different now. 12 in a million died of covid here and doctors were definitely looking for it.

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    Mute K Flan
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    Apr 17th 2021, 11:26 AM

    2 more weeks to flatten the curve

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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    Apr 18th 2021, 5:35 AM

    @K Flan: the curve is flattened. Sadly the base rate is still over 300 cases per day.

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    Mute Sean Callan
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    Apr 17th 2021, 7:26 AM

    Boring boring boring all this lot has to offer

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