Letter of the Day
A letter of note selected by the Letters' Editor
Memories of an early Dublin Airport
I first visited there in 1943 on the crossbar of my dad’s bicycle
The problem with planning and land ownership
The State owns very little itself, and has limited scope to assemble sites or plan at scale
Arresting the decline of the rural pub
We must preserve what is the last remaining public space in many rural communities
The message to Jews is clear
Fare charged by owners of electric taxis is no different from that charged by taxis run on petrol or diesel
‘Why is a loan to downsize almost twice the price of a loan to start or move up?’
The downsizing loan will be secured by two properties
Donald Trump does not understand recent history
What Mr Biden did was not simply generous, it was the right thing to do
Unacceptable ghost buses
When a bus disappears from the street screens or Transport for Ireland app, it stays gone without explanation
‘We must stand up to the bully and not lie down fearing his wrath’
We must call our lies and misinformation coming from high offices for political ends
‘All school leavers should be required to work in the building industry for a period after Leaving Cert’
In a housing crisis, anything is worth a try
Can someone please answer the phone?
It has become almost impossible to speak to a real human being when dealing with companies or public services
US sanctions on ICC judges should trouble us all
The Trump administration is trying to intimidate those who seek to hold Israel accountable for human rights violations
Low salaries, inconsistent public services and an impossible housing market were key reasons I emigrated
“For people of my generation, what’s on offer at home simply doesn’t compare with the lifestyle available in places like Australia”
‘I am looking for affordable wines, not bottles at ridiculous prices’
A wine would have to be really special for me to exceed €20
Nothing remotely inefficient about remote working
It is a sustainable solution to some of Ireland’s most pressing challenges
A love letter to letters
Actually writing lines on paper is an entirely different process from stabbing fingers on a keyboard
‘I cannot express how seriously the housing crisis has impacted me (35 years old and female) and my friends’
On a recent visit to a friend in Copenhagen, I was struck by how many couples in their young 20s had multiple babies
We thought situation in Sudan could not get much worse, yet it has
Without a ceasefire and a massive scaling-up of aid, millions more could face starvation
Tánaiste Simon Harris would need to cop himself on
The tone was oppressive and the claim was incorrect
Scapegoating of An Post and charges being made against it lack credibility
In an open and highly competitive market, it is bizarre that the failure of a badly run business is being blamed on one of its competitors that happens to manage their business well
Piotr Torng took his secrets – his only property – to the grave
‘Accommodation was always available for him but at times he chose to sleep out’
Have we all been gaslit by the construction industry?
‘As a planning consultant, I’ve seen first-hand how public participation strengthens communities’
Lily Allen’s confessional art
New album ‘interrogates sociological changes in traditional relationships’
Irish requirement in the Áras raises two obvious problems
The president-elect herself would not have met the standard she is setting until well into adulthood
John Collison speaks for my generation
No urgency, no accountability and no sign that the people running this country feel the same pressure the rest of us live under – in the real world!
Worrying increase in youth unemployment
‘A person with no prospects and no hope is an easy target for a bit of excitement, and worse’
Abandoned petrol stations around Ireland
Would it be so hard to enforce proper dismantling of these unsightly structures?
Legislation needs to keep up with technical progress
From AI to e-scooters and vapes, innovations must be quickly evaluated for potential dangers
Reasons for riots
There are four key arenas of State failure which create the conditions for occurrences such as in Saggart last week
Leave the phone alone
At one stage a couple a few rows in front of me were both recording at the same time
Driven to distraction by illegible car number plates
Ireland’s system is cumbersome, resulting in up to 11 characters on a plate
‘A spoiled ballot is in fact silence’
Generations protested so that we could hold this small piece of paper in our hands
‘I have worked in the HSE for 35 years, but this is particularly stupid’
Can someone explain to the HSE what exactly personal protective equipment (PPE) is designed to do?
Does the Irish language belong to Presbyterians too?
Many in what is now the PUL (Protestant, unionist, loyalist) community were Irish speakers, census records show
Apartment building costs don’t add up
After 10 years of deregulation, sector still in search of viability
Could the local authorities initiate a free apple tree scheme?
The Irish climate is perfect for growing apples
‘This is my 1,000th letter to The Irish Times. Do I need therapy?’
My wife views my letter writing as something similar to an old person posting on X/Twitter
The budget: `Do better please. Ask the important questions’
Where was the scrutiny on measures like VAT reductions to boost housing delivery?
A budget with barely a mention of universal healthcare
Waiting lists for surgeries, scans and disability assessments remain scandalously long
More power to solar power
When you become a solar power system owner, you quickly learn how to gauge electricity production
“The death of Manchán Magan has left a gaping hole”
He was at once a teacher, a guide, and a fellow pilgrim
Crosswords & Puzzles
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Stardust
Inquests into the nightclub fire that led to the deaths of 48 people
Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
Family NoticesOpens in new window
Weddings, Births, Deaths and other family notices