Residency directors going to Ireland to recruit? That sounds pretty unlikely. Most residency directors won't even cross the street to recruit. They wait for applicants to come to them, either in rotations or for interviews.
I've heard the Irish schools offer a pretty good education, and get decent residencies.
I'm at Sackler, and they seem to hold the same position that we do as far as residency directors are concerned: somewhat below an American school, but way above anything below the border.
ERIC