Sorry Oliver, but riots are not a subject for humour

AS the festivities come to an end, I sat down to watch the review of 2023 on RTÉ One. Always nice to look back on the year just gone.

Unfortunately, the manner in which the programme was aired was very disappointing.

It was presented by Oliver Callan, who is quite funny and talented, but this show gave no sense of reflection whatsoever.

Early 2023 saw RTÉ rocked by a scandal that shocked viewers. The impact was felt deeply within the organisation and affected many lives, their health and careers.

There were many stories covered. However; presenting this programme with voiceovers and not-funny skits, especially on Government and other State members surrounding the horrific riots, arson and personal attacks on our gardaí was shocking.

There are people still recovering from personal injuries sustained in this vile destruction of our city, leaving a Nation shocked to the core. Yes, let us look back on 2023, but in a dignified and sympathetic manner, not a skit with voiceovers. There was nothing funny and nothing to laugh about in any of the stories covered, especially the attack on innocent people, our city and businesses.

JOSEPHINE CUNNINGHAM,

Swords, Co. Dublin.

Don’t lecture us!

SO, the British government is shocked and dismayed that the Irish Government dared to have the balls to take a case against them in the European court because the UK’s legacy Act breached the UN convention on Human rights?

Chris Heaton-Harris has sent Tánaiste Micheál Martin a strongly worded letter questioning the Irish Government’s right to challenge the UK’s legacy’s laws. Instead of educating himself on the role of his government agencies/army/police/loyalist militias in the six counties over many years, to understand why the Irish Government had no option but to go down this route, Heaton-Harris attempts to deflect from the issue by questioning our Government’s own role in legacy issues. Talk about having a brass neck!

How can Heaton-Harris be so tactless or stupid to think that the two governments are equal partners in this final ironing-out of legacy issues? Surely the accepted logic in this argument is that a country that has occupied part of another island country by force and devious means can be nothing other than the defendant in court for trying to wriggle out of admitting their role in horrendous human rights abuses.

JAMES WOODS,

Dún na nGall.

Weighty matters

THE hall filled up quickly full of anticipation and hope. How much weight was lost, no thought for the alternative. However, with Christmas and the New Year out of the way, most were anxious.

In walked the leader of this chubby group. She enquired if there were any new members. A plump Jenny stood up. It was important to admit why you were there and state your goal. She wanted to lose her belly and be sexy again. Her fella paid her no attention so she felt invisible.

There was a muttered aside about kicking a certain fella into outer space. Up next stood timid Mavis, middle aged, no rings and no visible weight to lose. She wanted to loose a few pounds slowly. Dagger looks shot at her from all angles. Mavis was lonely, desperate to make friends. If in the process she had to eat more to stay in the class, so be it.

Next up was Stevie; he wanted a six pack but he had a beer belly. He was working on his profile hoping for lots of likes. There was an unspoken vibe that maybe he got the wrong type of swipes.

The weigh-in started and lots of gasps and promises were made. Chairs were stacked, lights went out as the hungry hopefuls left. All full of a desperate longing for a life-changing metamorphosis.

JACQUIE CONNOLLY, Foxrock, Dublin.