Noone tweet an insult to every elderly voter
SO ON mature reflection and following advice from her political peers Senator Catherine Noone has offered an apology for her outburst attacking Fr Tom Doherty, the priest who conducted Easter mass at Knock (because he had preached against abortion).
In her tweet, Ms Noone also insulted octogenarians and the Catholic Church. How long more will the octogenarians have to wait to receive their due apology?
When on her Dáil campaign, at the last general election, did Catherine Noone avoid knocking on the doors of octogenarians? Catherine, in order to regain respect I suggest that you offer a full and proper apology to all of us that have been offended through your utterings.
Denis O’Higgins, Monaghan.
McGregor mayhem
MANY people are shocked by Conor McGregor’s antics in New York.I wasn’t remotely as repulsed by Mr McGregor’s colourful behaviour in the Big Apple as by the so-called sport that has made him so wealthy.
Mixed Martial Arts is hailed as a great spectator event, but I see it as nothing more than legalised human thuggery, reminiscent of the Roman coliseum.
It revolves around two men doing their best to overcome each other by repeated kicking and punching within a cage, urged on by bloodthirsty fans.
They pay big bucks to see two human beings inflict visible injury on each other, and the more vicious the combat the more they like it, even when a fighter dies of his injuries, as Portuguese man João Carvalho did two years ago after sustaining fatal neurological damage during a cage fight in Ireland.
Then again, human nature doesn’t change. The Romans cheered for the gladiators who fought each other, or captive animals, to the death. They couldn’t get enough of the blood lust and carnage.
At coursing events I’ve watched grown men laughing and whooping as hares were sent somersaulting by the dogs, or mauled into the ground
McGregor’s behaviour in New York was silly. But it’s nothing compared to what happens in cages when men beat each other senseless (or worse) for a moronic thrill, or on Irish coursing fields that showcase man’s crass inhumanity.
John Fitzgerald, Callan, Co. Kilkenny. …I WONDER, in 10 years, will Conor McGregor end up like Mike Tyson, broke and an ex-convict?
Kevin Devitte, Westport, Co. Mayo.
Russell the Nazi?
ATTACKING former IRA leader Seán Russell, Eddie Naughton claims Russell was a Nazi collaborator and fascist (MoS letters, April 1).
Russell was in fact prominent in opposing Ireland’s Blueshirts from organising and encouraged republicans to go to Spain to fight fascism.
When Russell died on a German U-boat in 1940 he was accompanied by the anti-fascist leader Frank Ryan who had led Ireland’s International Brigade to fight Franco’s fascists in Spain.
Russell had been returning to Ireland from Germany having tried to secure an arms shipment to launch a military campaign against British rule in Ireland. Russell was loyal to a cause, not an ideology. Tom Cooper, Templeogue, Dublin 6w. …READING Eddie Naughton’s letter (MoS letters, April 1) I was reminded that the current leader of Sinn Féin, who purports to be liberal and left wing, was happy to unveil the statue of Seán Russell, referred to in that letter. He was a Nazi collaborator, a term used to describe a movement reviled throughout Europe and the civilised world, whose followers developed the most right-wing and horrific regime in history.
If you pose as a liberal these days you can get away with a lot of bunkum. Pat O Mahony, Dalkey, Co. Dublin.
Ultimate sacrifice
LIEUTENANT Colonel Arnaud Beltrame made the ultimate sacrifice representing the uniform which he wore with pride.
In saving a life by forfeiting his own he has saved many others and demonstrated to the whole world how to behave in the face of terror. It was done for his country and for his fellow citizens. But when he put his life on the line it was for all of the people of the world who live in freedom. Yes, we have all of us benefited through his heroism.
It it those rare actions that are signposts of a determination to fight back aginst terrorists.
His name should be honoured by all free nations and his memory held as a perpetual example of courage and valour in the face of evil.
Harry Mulhern, Dublin.