Sir, – I just read Justine McCarthy’s article in today’s Irish Times (“Why are so many people in Ireland so rude?”, September 19th).
I would like to congratulate her on her excellent contribution to highlighting a sad fact of modern day society. I grew up at a time when young people would offer their seat on a bus to older people, women and clergy.
It wasn’t something we thought about, but rather an instinctive action that resulted from the way we were brought up.
I’ve lived in the US for more than 30 years. We experience the same lack of awareness here with so many glued to their phones. I would like to add, however, that I meet people all the time, and many with no historical connection to Ireland, who are pleasantly surprised and delighted by the warmth of the engagement that they find in Ireland.
RM Block
It’s a huge and defining part of who we are. I hope that every reader of Ms McCarthy’s article will do their little bit to encourage good manners and simple politeness.
They are national characteristics of which we ought to be justly proud and determined to uphold and encourage in our younger generations. – Yours, etc,
JOHN COTTER,
Massachusetts,
United States.
Sir, – Regarding Justine McCarthy’s article: my letter describing my daily experience of rudeness at all levels would, I guess, be too long for publication.
Having said that, the courtesy we experience every day from the people we work with who are homeless would do one’s heart good.
It is clear that the lack of respect across the board has led to the declining atmosphere in our lovely capital city. This reality is rarely discussed in the many “think-tanks” that raise their heads, looking to the future.
We have a lot to be thankful for in this country and maybe we should start our day by being grateful for what we have, and this could lead us to having respect for all those we meet along the way. – Yours, etc,
ALICE LEAHY,
Director of Services,
Alice Leahy Trust,
Dublin.
Trump’s visit to Britain
Sir, – It was difficult to watch the obsequious spectacle of Donald Trump’s state visit to Britain this week. The visit will almost certainly deliver diplomatic and economic benefits to Britain and will therefore be viewed by many in Keir Starmer’s administration as a success.
Nonetheless, it seemed an entirely morally reprehensible decision to entertain the US president in such a manner given the damage he has effected globally through the bullying tactics of excessive trade tariffs, the withdrawal of support for Europe in managing the war in the Ukraine, and the devastating withdrawal of USAID from less-developed countries.
Worst of all, he has allowed the Netanyahu regime impunity to proceed with a war of death and starvation on the civilian population of Gaza and raze the territory.
Domestically, the US is slowly becoming a slow-burn, autocratic state with the latest development – the firing of satirical talk show entertainer Jimmy Kimmel – just one small but chilling example. What next?
And yet Britain saw fit to entertain Mr Trump in royal style. “The whole world is in a terrible state o’chassis”! – Yours, etc,
CYNTHIA CARROLL,
Co Tipperary.
Sir, – John Cotter claims that Jimmy Kimmel was “driven off the air” in an act of “censorship” that he attributes to the development of a “right-wing dictatorship”, in the United States (Letters, September 19th).
In reality, Mr Kimmel’s show has spent the best part of a decade haemorrhaging ratings in a commercially unviable way.
In 2015, he averaged nearly 2.6 million viewers per episode. By last month, this had fallen 58 per cent to a little over one million. Of those, 129,000 viewers were aged between 18 and 49, down 84 per cent from 765,000 a decade ago.
These figures indicate that Mr Kimmel is less a victim of a political conspiracy to silence him, and more a victim of public disinterest in his unfunny schtick. That’s showbiz for you. – Yours, etc,
KILLIAN FOLEY-WALSH,
Kilkenny city.
The plough and the guards
Sir, – I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate senior management within An Garda Síochána for the stellar job they did on managing everything to do with the ploughing festival in Tullamore this week.
As I work in Tullamore and had to drive to work each day, I was very reassured by the excellent traffic management on my route.
I would especially like to pay tribute to the two gardaí standing on the footpath at the Ballycumber turn in Moate, the four gardaí standing just up the road at the roundabout, the two gardaí standing just beyond Clara, the two standing at the turn from Durrow, the three standing waving their arms to direct motorists safely into the car parks outside Tullamore, and the two walking the footpaths of the industrial estate where the buses ran from.
With the current shortage of gardaí it is nothing short of a miracle that these numbers were found to prevent the massive potential for unrest there would have been if they weren’t at those junctions.
Perhaps we could have the ploughing in Parnell Square or O’Connell Street next year. Just an idea. – Yours, etc,
RORY DUFFY,
Athlone,
Co Westmeath.
Not so Cuala
Sir, – Regarding the article by Colin Gleeson (“Cuala agree deal to buy six-acre site from Bective Rangers for ¤2m,” September 18th), I note the reference to the Cuala male stars Con O’Callaghan and Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne. Regrettably, I also note the absence of any reference to Cuala’s outstanding female players; multiple All- Ireland and All Star winners with Dublin such as Martha Byrne, Jen Dunne and Jess Tobin.
Is mór an trua é sin. – Yours, etc,
ANGELA AHERNE,
Malahide,
Co Dublin.
Handling of the presidency
Sir, – Bearing in mind that the Constitution specifically grants the right to county councils to nominate presidential candidates, I can’t help but think that Simon Harris’s specific instruction to Fine Gael councillors to actively vote against other candidates is unconstitutional, in that it is actively preventing candidates from being nominated.
If the Fine Gael councillors were simply abstaining and not preventing a minority of other councillors from nominating, that would be different.
To be honest, I think that his instruction to Fine Gael councillors sounds very similar to the tactic used by despots like Putin, who uses all sorts of tricks to keep rival candidates off the ballot paper. – Yours, etc,
DAVID DORAN,
Bagenalstown,
Co Carlow.
Sir, – Over the past fortnight, Maria Steen has been making heroic efforts to get on the ballot for the presidential election.
She is committed to doing her best for the public, families, and our future as a nation. She is relatable, intelligent, educated, eloquent, empathetic and elegant. Many see her as the best our country has to offer at this time.
Why are our councillors spoiling every effort to put her on the ballot paper? Is it that the process of county councils nominating candidates has been stymied for political reasons, even though the office of president is supposed to be above party politics? – Yours, etc,
MARY B DUFFY,
Glasheen,
Cork.
Sir – If Jim Gavin succeeds in his attempt to become the next president, I hope he will honour his promise to serve one term only, unlike the present holder of that office who reneged on the same promise and went forward for a second term seven years ago. – Yours etc,
MARGARET BUTLER,
Booterstown,
Dublin.
War on words
Sir, – Your correspondent Desmond Curley (Letters, September 19th) asks whether anyone can come up with a better description for the “war” in Gaza. This week, the UN commission of inquiry has answered his question – genocide. – Yours, etc,
DAVID LOUGHLIN,
Dublin 6.
Price of a united Ireland
Sir, – Tim Bracken (Letters, September 18th) suggests that the price of a united Ireland would mean an Orange march in Dublin and the accommodation of Orange beliefs and traditions. “Eleventh Night” bonfires, as we know them, should not be included as part of an accommodation.
After this year’s bonfires, Irish society witnessed yet again the sectarian burning of Irish flags and emblems. Many of these bonfires contain vast imitation funeral pyres adorned with nationalist effigies of people who were voted for, in the main, by Catholics. We are told that these bonfires are inclusive celebrations of loyalist culture where everyone is welcome and respected.
This “respect” does not appear to include the thousands who vote for the politicians whose images, names and symbols are consumed in numerous celebratory conflagrations.
Were Jewish, Muslim or black people’s representatives so depicted, it would rightfully be called racist. – Yours, etc,
TOM COOPER,
Dublin 6W.
Attacks on politicians
Sir, – The rise in attacks on politicians is a cause for grave concern and immediate action. It was good therefore to see Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy taking a lead on this matter when the Dáil resumed last Wednesday.
Her invitation to all party leaders to meet her to consider how best these threats may be dealt with will hopefully elicit the urgent response it deserves.
Attacks on politicians are attacks on all of us who value our democratic process. No cost should be spared in ensuring the necessary protection for all members of the Dáil and Seanad. Their personal safety is important to all of us and in our interest as well as theirs. – Yours, etc,
GARRETT SHEEHAN,
Clonskeagh,
Dublin.
Covid and school closures
Sir, – Dr Mike Ryan’s recent assertion that the perception of children as significant Covid-19 vectors was “not supported in the evidence” and his subsequent conclusion that “the benefit of closing schools has not been clearly demonstrated” overlooks the operational realities within schools during the pandemic (“Closing schools in Covid pandemic had ‘hugely detrimental effect,’ says Mike Ryan,” September 11th).
The data now being analysed, which seems to suggest limited in-school transmission, may be fundamentally flawed.
The definition of a close contact for schools was different from the rest of society, the contact-tracing system within schools broke down and schools did close, which undeniably led to a break in transmission.
While we may never fully comprehend the extent to which schools contributed to the spread of Covid, a clearer explanation of the data being used to justify the narrative that school closures were unnecessary is essential. – Yours, etc,
SEAN KEAVNEY,
Dublin 15.
Inheritance tax
Sir, – A letter writer complains that the bequests in her will to “reliable persons” will each be taxed above ¤40,000 ( Letters, September 18th).
She should remember that her wealth has accumulated, not in a vacuum, but in Irish society and that it is not unreasonable that some of her wealth should be returned to our society after her death when the money is no longer of any benefit to her.
It is often quoted that the two certainties in life are death and taxes, but a third certainty is that death means never having to worry about one’s tax affairs ever again. – Yours, etc,
PAVEL MARIANSKI,
Dungarvan,
Co Waterford.
Watching out for children
Sir, – I do not have the words to comment on the tragedy of Daniel Aruebose. I am very aware when I just walk around in Dublin of the noticeable presence of primary school age and post-primary age children during school hours.
Have they also “disappeared” from official records? We do these children grave harm by ignoring their school non-attendance.
Is anybody tracking their attendance especially at the point of leaving primary school and moving on to post primary?
Let’s protect their futures unlike our failures with Daniel. – Yours, etc,
CATHERINE O’FLYNN,
North Circular Road,
Dublin 7.
Outfoxed again
Sir, – One of your esteemed letter writers asked the question, “Can foxes read?’’
Maybe they cannot read as you and I understand it. But they can certainly read the news in their district better than us humans, by the use of their nose, eyes and ears.
Their cunning knows no bounds. They have survived for centuries in rural and urban settings, mostly against the odds.
They are not called “sly fox’’ for nothing. – Yours, etc,
TOM TOWEY,
Clonegall,
Co Sligo.
Seeing red
Sir, – Dónall Ó Murchú (Letters, September 19th) claims to have spotted a Dublin cyclist stopped at a red light. It may have been me, as I have been known, from time to time, to obey the rules of the road on my daily commute.
It is a pity I did not spot him, as I could have taken the opportunity to offer him the traditional greeting that Dublin cyclists reserve for bigoted and pass-remarkable motorists. – Yours, etc,
RONAN McDERMOTT,
Rathgar,
Dublin 6.
Sir, – Mr Ó Murchú was fortunate to see a cyclist stop at the red light. Yesterday morning I saw an older gentleman (perhaps a grandfather) with a child in a seat on the back of his bicycle cycle straight through red lights at a busy junction.
He had not stopped at a yield sign earlier while going through a roundabout.
Which guardian angel did he think was protecting him, his – or that of the child? – Yours, etc,
ROSARY COX,
Mount Merrion,
Co Dublin.
