Is Ireland a classless society?

Discuss the contention that Ireland is a classless society. 'Class' is what happens when some men, as a result of common experiences (inherited or shared) feel and articulate the identity of their interests as between themselves and as against other men whose interests are different from (and usually opposed to) theirs.' (E.P. Thompson, 1968) One hundred years ago I might have been able to agree with the title of this essay, I might have …

…distinguish themselves from others on the basis of cultural tastes and leisure pursuits. I don't agree however, that Ireland is a classless society, I believe that we are gradually moving towards a more meritocratic society, or wish to be viewed as a meritocratic society, but as the case of Soviet Russia illustrated, no society can ever be completely classless. As John Scott argues, 'class remains the sociological key to understanding the structure of society' Scott, 1994:19)