Spirituality and the Celtic Tiger period: changes experienced by senior business leaders in the South East of Ireland

This study explores changes experienced in the level and quality of spirituality among a representative group of business leaders from the South East region of Ireland, during the period of the ‘Celtic Tiger’, and the period since, a time of significant economic and cultural change. A phenomenological approach was adopted for the research, using a qualitative method of data collection and analysis. Eighteen semi structured in-depth interviews were conducted with business leaders,with diversity in background, business involvement, age and gender. The research found that Spirituality does have a role in work, and people cannot leave their Spirituality at home. Spirituality in work is mainly to do with values, and expressed most frequently in dealings with people. There was a change in the experience of spirituality during the Celtic Tiger period, manifested by a dilution in personal values, with an increased concentration on personal material gain.