1998 predictions? Irish Intercontinental Bank sent a nice "poem" - titled The Christmas Before EMU - to its clients, as a way of predicting that the Government would favour the exporters lobby and enter monetary union at DM2.41 - its current central rate. After a good few verses on Charlie McCreevy pondering the dilemma, driving his "tiny Merc and six sturdy reindeer" it finishes:

And laying a finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose, He sprank to his sleigh and it rose from the slates, Gave Maurice the nod to cut interest rates, Then he unbuttoned his lip, as they drove out of sight, Happy EMU to all, 2.41 will be right.