macflea,
Thx for the post. yes, unfortunately the EASA provider I am going through didn't warn me about the 6 year expiration and I didn't catch it! The class one I did (initial) was completed in Dec 2007. I don't remember going back 6 mo later like I do for the FAA...because I think I only had to go back for renewal the following December 2008. But the contract expired and there was no need, so I just did nothing...then all these years past and I was not aware of this 5 year rule.
There are exceptions that are made, but the Irish authority won't budge, even when it's only a few months past the 5 year mark. Sad really because I have been keeping up my other medicals along the way and flying on other ATP's.