Ireland Flashes a Smile

Our friends over in Ireland haven’t been getting much love lately. FIFA robbed their team of a World Cup appearance, their government limited their free speech and the global recession has burst their economic balloon.

Looks like the Irish could use a little luck.

UK-based Vodafone has come up with a plan to “Cheer Up Ireland.” In January, the phone company began hosting a Flickr photo pool, encouraging the Irish to submit original photographs that might lift the Emerald Isle’s spirits. While the feel-good promotion is running in tandem with a discount for Irish cell phone users, its true brilliance is in reminding us that there are inexpensive and creative ways to foster goodwill.

And as extra incentive to boost their photo count, and Ireland’s morale, Vodafone will reward the best entrant with a 3000€ shopping spree. For those of you already doing the math, that’s $5324.34 – or 887 pints of Guinness. And if that doesn’t do the trick, nothing will.