Sir, – I write with a heavy heart at the passing of Sister Stanislaus Kennedy, or Sr Stan as she was known to many. Her life was a testament to faith in action, compassion without end, and tireless advocacy for the most vulnerable among us.
I was privileged to meet Sr Stan a few times during my work with people in need. Each encounter was a gift. Her words of encouragement, gentle prayers and quiet guidance gave me courage in moments when the scale of suffering in Ireland, Asia and Africa felt overwhelming.
Through Focus Ireland, which Sr Stan founded in 1985, through the Immigrant Council of Ireland, and through the Sanctuary on Stanhope Street, Dublin she transformed faith into action.
She confronted homelessness not merely as a social problem but as a moral and spiritual one. She believed that hope is not naive optimism – it is trust that light will come, even in the darkest places.
RM Block
Her writings, Seasons of Hope and Gratitude, taught me that every act of kindness matters, that gratitude strengthens the soul and that compassion is a discipline not a choice. In moments of despair, her courage and vision reminded me to keep working, to keep praying and to keep believing that every person deserves a home and a sense of belonging.
Now that Sr Stan has returned to God, we honour her best by continuing her mission. We must act, building homes, advocating for the voiceless and walking alongside those society often forgets. As Scripture calls us: “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Sr Stan’s light shone brightly across Ireland. – Yours, etc,
RONAN SCULLY,
Knocknacarra,
Galway.
Sir, – My 1969 Leaving Cert class went on retreat, as was typical at the time, to the Peace in Christ centre in Kilkenny.
Part of the schedule was to take a silent, contemplative walk in the adjacent garden. At some point, three or four of us took cover in a quiet corner where we compromised our “vow of silence”.
We were soon thrown into panic as we observed a young woman approach. We knew her, as all of Kilkenny knew her, as Sr Stan, a nun who “always” wore normal clothes and who with Bishop Birch was in the process of devising a system whereby members of the community would deliver a dinner to others in need.
Instead of berating us for breaking our silence, she joined the chat asking about our families and the pressure of the upcoming exam, etc.
I never forgot her message to us that day whereby she prompted us to appreciate that some who could not do the “Leaving” may be under much greater pressure that could last a lifetime. – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL GANNON,
Kilkenny.
Australia as an example?
Sir, – I disagree with David McWilliams’s article, which asserts that Australia is a better country than Argentina (“Look out Ireland, our economy could go the way of Argentina”, Opinion, November 1st). Also, that Ireland should follow Australia’s example.
As I see it, Australia, in a mere 200 years as a nation, has taken a pristine, undamaged part of the world and turned it into one of the largest exporters of coal and minerals, while severely damaging its environment through resource exploitation and the introduction of invasive species – plants, animals and humans alike.
The founders of the modern western world – the French and American revolutionaries – spoke of life, liberty, equality, fraternity and the pursuit of happiness not economic growth. Australia remains fixated on unfettered economic growth. McWilliams is blinkered to elevate growth above happiness.
I am 70 and I do not know a single person who believes that younger generations are happier than we have been. The generations after mine seem to work harder than we did.
Argentina may not share Australia’s wealth, but it seems to prize a more relaxed (human?) way of life.
As Cop30 begins, perhaps we might consider that those who do not seek endless economic growth may, in fact, be the wiser and better ones. – Yours, etc,
JOHN SUTTLE,
Clontarf,
Dublin 3.
Advice vs training
Sir, – Fianna Fáil insists Ivan Yates did not provide campaign advice to Jim Gavin’s team, confirming that it hired Yates to provide four hours of “interview and debate” training (News, November 3rd).
Is interview and media training not some sort of advice or coaching? – Yours, etc,
AIDAN RODDY,
Cabinteely,
Dublin 18.
Defence policy decisions
Sir, – Stephen Collins is correct in stating that a Dáil debate on removing the so-called triple lock will have a positive impact if it focuses the public mind on the wider defence policy decisions that have to be made in an unstable world (“Ireland’s neutrality is widely regarded as a joke. It’s time we got real,” Opinion, October 31st). Unfortunately, the chances of that happening are not good if precedent is anything to go by.
The question of Irish participation in the defence of western Europe arose when membership of the European Economic Community (EEC) was proposed by Seán Lemass’s government more than 60 years ago.
Ireland applied for full membership of the EEC, along with the UK in 1961, and this raised the possibility of a military relationship with Nato’s nuclear powers. Lemass was unusually candid in saying, “there is no neutrality and we are not neutral”. In other words, he hinted that Ireland’s “military neutrality” could be dumped if required.
The prospect of joining a nuclear alliance alarmed some public representatives.
Speakers at a well-attended event the following year included the independent TD Noël Browne, and WB Stanford, an independent senator. Stanford argued that the indications that Lemass might bring Ireland into Nato had caused indignation, and those who opposed this possibility would “stand up and be counted”. Browne contended that it had been “impossible” to obtain “any categorical statement” on the political and military implications of membership of the European bloc. He called for a referendum.
However, the application to join the EEC fell along with the British bid, in January 1963, when France’s Charles de Gaulle vetoed Britain joining, and fears over a relationship with a military alliance subsided. When Ireland did join the EEC, in 1973, as a non-Nato member state, Jack Lynch’s government could say that no military commitments had been entered into in relation to defending Europe.
As far as Britain’s ambassador in Dublin was concerned, neutrality was not “a considered policy” but rather “a desire to make a virtue out of a lack of necessity”.
Ten years later the British defence secretary, Michael Heseltine, caused a diplomatic spat when he suggested that Ireland could afford to be militarily neutral by hiding behind Nato’s “umbrella”.
Heseltine was right, and successive governments also failed to take defence policy seriously. The geopolitical certainties of the Cold War ended following the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the political situation in Europe has become increasingly dangerous. Can we afford not to heed Noël Browne’s appeal for an informed, and measured, national debate on defence and neutrality? What has to happen first? – Yours, etc,
JOHN MULQUEEN,
Clontarf,
Dublin.
Protecting our digital rights
Sir, – Jack Power’s report of the correspondence between Meta’s chief privacy officer and vice-president Erin Egan and Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan in a May 23rd letter offers a rare insight into the arrogance and resolution of the big tech companies Google, Apple, Meta, Microsoft and Amazon to undermine the EU’s digital legal framework (“Data protection rules ‘completely out of control’, Meta tells Government”, October 30th).
Power reported that Meta called for a fundamental overhaul of the EU’s data laws saying they should be revised to take better account of “economic interests” and private sector innovation. In other words, Meta should be allowed to make more money from our data.
With the need for these big tech companies to obtain returns on their investments in AI, this determination to exploit our data for their own ends will only intensify. We are facing a new era of colonisation – data colonisation.
Echoing the land wars of the 19th century, the Government’s forthcoming legislation on AI should assert our right to the ownership of our data – data for the people – and confirm our commitment to the EU’s declaration on digital rights and principles, which is grounded in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and extends it to the digital domain.
Our presidency of the EU next year should also be an occasion to reassure our European partners that Ireland will play an active role in building the independent institutions needed for a sovereign, secure and stable European digital democracy that protects our citizens’ data and prevents the big tech companies riding roughshod over our digital rights. – Yours, etc,
DECLAN DEASY,
Castlebellingham,
Co Louth.
Connolly and digital media
Sir, – Breda O’Brien writes that Catherine Connolly’s victory is thanks to “a facility with cheerleading digital media” (“The vibes-based politics that elected Catherine Connolly are powerful, but ultimately empty”, Opinion, November 2nd). This is hardly fair.
At least Connolly’s team mounted a campaign and conducted it with commitment and skill. Nothing of the kind can be said of her opponents in the parties of Government who failed the public so disgracefully. – Yours, etc,
ADRIAN MOYNES,
Dublin 8.
Supporting Ukraine
Sir, – Adi Roche’s letter on Ukraine’s efforts to have ecocide recognised as a war crime rings so true (Letters, November 3rd).
The Russians seem to have no moral red lines in achieving their aims in Ukraine.
With their cities flattened, nuclear plants endangered, reservoirs blown up and fields sown with mines and munitions, the Ukrainian government and people need all the support we can give them. – Yours, etc,
ENDA SCANLON,
Ennis,
Co Clare.
Germany’s history
Sir, – It seems that Catherine Connolly has no sense of the depth of hurt she caused, during the presidential contest, to the German people by her casual remark comparing current German defence policy with 1930s Nationalist Socialist warmongering.
“The people” in this case is not an amorphous mass, but hundreds of thousands of men and women whose political identity over three or more generations (with the exception of members of the extreme right) has been formed by their active acceptance of collective responsibility as a nation for the crimes of the Third Reich.
I began learning German two months after the founding of the Federal German Republic in May 1949. I have lived in all parts of Germany and taught German language, literature and history to German as well as Irish and English students over a career of some 60 years. Over the years I have been made deeply aware of the psychological burden carried by so many young Germans for the events of 1933-1945.
I found it disturbing that up to the 1990s many Germans would avoid the term “Deutsch” as something tainted and instead describe themselves as “Bundesbürger/innen”, citizens of the Federal Republic.
Germany has been a good friend to Ireland over many years, treating our citizens with the respect we hope to deserve.
As a people we admire and like our German neighbours. But at all times we need to be aware of sensitivities in speaking of the discontinuities of Germany’s history. – Yours, etc,
EDA SAGARRA,
Rathgar,
Dublin 6.
Chaucer’s six seven
Sir, – Apparently the expression “six seven” used in memes is the “word” of the moment (“What is ‘six seven’ and why is the world obsessed with this latest online trend?”, Life & Style, October 28th).
Geoffrey Chaucer wrote Troilus and Criseyde in the 1380s and it mentions “to set the world on six and seven”.
The phrase also appears in Richard II, written by William Shakespeare in the 1590s: “And every thing is left at six and seven.”
So it appears not to be some new expression but one that the oldies might have heard before. Recycling is a good thing, even for words. – Yours, etc,
DENNIS FITZGERALD,
Melbourne,
Australia.
Pets in distress
Sir, – Another Halloween has passed and once again we hear heartbreaking stories of pets in distress. From early October onwards, domestic and wild animals are forced to endure repeated explosions from fireworks and bangers.
When did celebrating Halloween come to mean subjecting defenceless animals to prolonged fear and distress? We have shown, as a society, that we can adapt our traditions when we recognise the harm they cause. Surely we can do the same with fireworks, or at least enforce the laws that already exist to limit their use. – Yours, etc,
ROBERT RUSSELL,
Skerries,
Co Dublin.
A teacher’s welcome
Sir, – Having seen the recent news coverage of the ongoing protests about the closure of the mosque in Clonskeagh, I felt compelled to write about something I’ve noticed on my daily commute.
Passing the school on the same grounds, I have observed since April that every morning at about 8.30am, a teacher stands outside the closed gates – rain or shine – to welcome the children arriving by bus. She greets each child with a smile, offers high-fives and hugs, and walks them safely inside.
In a time when it is easy to criticise teachers, this simple act of kindness and dedication reminds us of the vocation so many still have. It does the heart good to see. Bravo to her and all like her. – Yours, etc,
SARAH O’BRIEN,
Dublin 14.
Limited menus
Sir, – My late father loved telling the story of visiting the only hotel on Arranmore Island, The Glen Hotel in the 1960s for Sunday lunch. The menu offered “fish or meat”.
The fish turned out to be fresh wild Atlantic salmon and the meat mountain lamb.
Both, he said, were absolutely delicious! – Yours, etc,
EILEEN BANNAN,
Letterkenny,
Co Donegal.
