1976 here!
I loved the 90's like truly that was and is my favorite decade of all time, turned 20 in '96 and everything was pretty cool, even the Euro 96 tournament was aces. Grew up a lot at that time also. The boom Ireland was seeing was insane, it was known as the 'Celtic Tiger' as our economy just balooned with the influx of US companies and tech firms who got massive tax cuts, the fact the US economy was also booming along with the EU it was a transformative time for Ireland, from 1994-2007 everyone had money to spare. Corruption was rife within our government but no one cared as we spent like mad eejits!
Then came the crash, I just about hung onto my job while every single other person in the office was let go, I was alone on an entire floor. Our corrupt politicians started to be brought to account and Fine Gael and Fine Fail had to re-invent themselves as the old guard was looked at with disdain as they had failed us all, we had enquiry after enquiry unveiling their deeds, I've said it before, in the 90's I used to admire the British politicians for handing in resignation over the smallest of issues, they were so different to our shower of pricks and the seemed to have dignity.
The world has a whole is a darker place, but as an Irishman I've seen my country grow, boom and bust was part of it but with the complete separation of church and state and strong leaders we've become a progressive haven, a country that I'm finally FINALLY proud of. Our youth have opportunity again, no more girls having to travel to Britain for abortions, no more shame for being gay, no more absolute banana splits killing innocent people in my name and no more bowing down to the church. We actively ask the EU for more refugee's and the over all feeling is that we want a multicultural Ireland, a progressive Ireland and in time, yes, a united one.
So at least in this sense, right here, right now, I'm very optimistic.