In Michael Lewis's "Boomerang: Travels in the New Third World," there is a vivid depiction of the collective shock experienced by the people of Ireland when they confronted their financial overseer. McCarthy reflects on the moment everyone realized that the literal figure they imagined, the wise old man controlling the money, was not what they had expected. This shocking realization led to a wave of panic among the populace.

The moment served as a pivotal wake-up call for the Irish, who had held onto an idealized image of their financial steward. The dissonance between their expectations and the reality ignited fear and uncertainty about their economic situation, prompting a broader discussion on financial accountability and governance in Ireland.