This paper examines Irish mainstream media coverage of the housing bubble that burst in 2007 and plunged Ireland into economic and financial crisis. It is shown that news organisations largely sustained the bubble until the property market collapsed. As such, news stories reflected the views and...

1. Introduction : 'the most significant changes since World War II' -- 2. The crisis and the role of the media -- 3. The housing bubble -- 4. Saving the banks -- 5. The EU-IMF bailout and the default option -- 6. Austerity, or class warfare -- 7. Beyond the eurozone? -- 8. Conclusion.