dublin april 27 reuters  irish consumer sentiment increased sharply to a 13month high in april on falling energy costs and a less threatening outlook for european central bank interest rates a survey showed on thursday the credit union consumer sentiment index climbed to 592 in april from 539 in march that compares to septembers 14year low of 421 and the 770 recorded in february 2022 before russias invasion of ukraine irelands domestic economy weakened late last year but still posted the fastest growth in the euro zone for 2022 and is expected to expand again this year stronger sentiment seems to be the result of an easing in fears rather than any sense that conditions are improving markedly at present the surveys authors said in a statement encouraging as the april sentiment reading is it still suggests the current mood of the irish consumer is dominated by uncertainty and caution