There was a huge chasm between the cultural portrayal of pre-Celtic Tiger Ireland era & the reality. For example most Dubliners lived comfortable lives in clean, well kept suburbs. This was true even of working class areas like Coolock. But that doesn't fit the misery narrative

In order to validate a political, ethnic & cultural onslaught on "old Ireland", the liberal fanatics had to portray it as not just spiritually repressive, but physically grim & squalid. After all if liberalism can't be justified on material grounds, what else can be said for it?

In his great 1980s book "Beyond Nationalism" Des Fennell wrote of this disconnect between how Ireland was portrayed in literature, cinema etc & the reality'. Much of what Irish writers wrote about Ireland was misery porn on demand for liberal anti-Catholic publishers & critics.