Parades can wait, let’s get behind rugby team
IN the spirit of Ireland’s Call, might I suggest that, due to the momentous rugby fixture between Ireland and England this St Patrick’s Day, all of our patron saint’s parades and events be rescheduled to either finish before kick-off (2.45pm), or start once the game is over.
Such a gesture would allow all the people of the four provinces of Ireland to stand shoulder-toshoulder and enjoy this significant and historic sporting event.
In fairness, all those involved in organising parades and events knew of this match’s timing well in advance, and it was always likely to be a very important and epochdefining Irish sporting event.
We, rightly, shut the country down for storms Emma and Ophelia and should, at least, make the effort to make 2-5pm on St Patrick’s Day this year a special time to celebrate and savour our international sporting prowess and achievements.
Ireland have secured their 15th Championship victory, and if they win, they will claim their 11th Triple Crown. Crucially, it will be only the third time in the history of rugby that an Irish team has won the Grand Slam, should we prevail at Twickenham. PAUL HORAN, Assistant Professor, Trinity College Dublin.
Unfair on Tallaght
IN response to Brenda Power’s article in the Mail last Tuesday (‘When people are told they don’t have to pay their way, why are we so shocked by Tallaght chaos?’), I too feel shame, disgust and anger, but for entirely different reasons.
I do not agree with looting; however, I do understand why it occurred in Tallaght and not Foxrock. A small example of unequal treatment that comes to mind is when both Tallaght and Foxrock had a bypass imposed.
Foxrock was provided with a noise-inhibiting, visually pleasing wall. Tallaght was given railings.
Jobstown is a law-abiding, lowincome neighbourhood not populated by thugs and social welfare spongers as the article implied. During the bad weather, post offices were closed for days. Did Ms Power give one moment’s thought to how someone without the financial ability to stock up on extra food or fuel managed?
I predict a righteous anger that the State shall reap if this type of class prejudice continues in our wealthy country.
I see nothing in the article regarding the shameful behaviour of Noel Rock TD. The meme he retweeted on social media appeared to call residents of Tallaght spongers looking for something for nothing. I remind Ms Power and Mr Rock that approximately 100,000 people live in the greater Tallaght area, and allegedly just nine were involved in looting. Both Ms Power and Mr Rock took this isolated incident to display class prejudice,
Tallaght is a conurbation the size of a city, yet the South Dublin County Council provided no gritting and no snow ploughs.
Something for nothing? You must be joking! People were forced to pay privately to be dug out of their estates. It is shameful and disgusting that taxpayers couldn’t get to work.
MARY DUNLEAVY, Co. Dublin.
Bring back milk bottles
THE Irish Daily Mail is again to be commended in headlining the use of plastic containers.
It is ridiculous that a large 2-to3-litre plastic container is used for milk on a once-off basis.
I believe it can take up to 500 years for these containers to decompose.
What is wrong with going back to the milk bottle (we did it with plastic bags)?
Cardboard Tetra Paks are even used alongside plastic containers. Why not stick with these?
Keep up the good work in highlighting common-sense issues and I certainly support your views on above.
NOEL GEARY, Co. Kildare.
Give old people a break
THE hospital overcrowding crisis is a disgrace, and seems to be getting worse.
One of the more galling aspects of this crisis is the blaming of old people, like myself, for ‘clogging up’ bed spaces.
Why are we the problem? At 72, I’ve paid enough in taxes to have ‘earned’ a hospital bed.
You can’t help getting old, but you can help getting drunk and tying up casualty at the weekends. Or getting overweight through an unhealthy lifestyle and all the health risks that brings. Stop blaming us for being old!
MARY BROGAN, Co. Mayo.
World is going mad
RUSSIAN spies being poisoned in the UK... Putin boasting about new weapons... the Chinese premier winning a vote to keep him in charge for life... and Trump throwing shapes in the White House.
Do we need any more proof that the world is on the brink of a new Cold War – or worse, a hot war, with so many right-wing tyrants rattling each others’ cages and giving two fingers to democracy.
In particular, China’s decision to revert to a leader-for-life, Chairman Mao-style political system is deeply worrying, given the antics of North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un.
I grew up during the Cold War, with its threat of nuclear annihilation – but I never remember feeling this scared before.