Why did Cheltenham fans put us all in such danger?
PHILIP QUINN deserves to be applauded for his article entitled ‘The Week Racing Sold its Soul’ about the decision to allow the Cheltenham festival to go ahead.
Many observers of the bigger picture would agree with the subheading, which suggested that reason was abandoned in favour of cash and craic.
However, some other racing writers chose to condemn those who criticised the staging of the big meeting, with one paper offering the opinion that ‘putting the boot in on Cheltenham is outrageous’. The thousands of Irish racing fans descending on the Gloucestershire town was compared to Spanish football fans travelling to Liverpool.
It does seem that such people seem to think two wrongs make a right. While I have long been a follower of horse racing, the arrogance of some other supporters of the sport gives the impression that those who criticised the staging of the Cheltenham meeting are entitled to their opinion but are wrong.
Noel Coogan, Navan, Co. Meath. …HAVING read Philip Quinn’s article on Cheltenham Races on Sunday March 15, I feel I must put pen to paper. I was one of many Irish racegoers who travelled over for the festival. I have been going for 30 years.
Let me point out that if the Government had advised us not to travel we would not have.
If Philip Quinn, as he said, had doubts he should have stayed at home. He called Cheltenham ‘a festering pit’ in reference to the toilets. Let me say I was there for four days and used many of the toilets and they were spotless, with plenty of cleaning gel and hot water.
I took every precaution over there and had a wonderful time. Cheltenham is one occasion I look forward to every year.
Finally, I would ask: has Philip Quinn anything to say about the thousand of Italian rugby fans who travelled to Dublin from the worst-hit country in Europe for the cancelled rugby game. That’s worse than me and my friend travelling to England.
Liam Conlon, Bettystown, Co. Meath ...HOW regrettably devoid of national empathy is RHI in having decided to continue with horse racing during these emergency times. The horse racing industry, showed its ‘colours’ by allowing Cheltenham proceed, and we see convincing evidence of its self-indulgence and associated gambling organisations.
This is a crisis that demands universal affinity, concern and partiality irrespective of the level of individualistically perceived impact.
Michael Gannon, Kilkenny city.
AT A time when our politicians and health professionals and many others have performed so well it is important to remind ourselves that there are people among us who will again try to take unfair advantage of various supports and schemes.
Those of us who pay our way, some with a struggle, are well aware of people who, for instance, reneged on mortgage payments while being well able to afford them. The missing payments ultimately cost the taxpayer and the compliant because of the reduced capacity of banks to repay the State and to provide mortgages to hardworking families.
We can, and should, find common cause with those who struggle with income loss leading to difficulties with mortgages, rent or utilities. But fairness and the need to avoid resentment among the struggling and hardworking demands that we do not make it easy for those wishing to exploit the crisis.
Pat O’Mahony, Dalkey, Co. Dublin.
I NOTICE an increasing number of celebrities are making public their personal encounters with Covid-19. It’s as if the virus is seeking them out – everyone from Michel Barnier of the
EU-failed Brexit negotiatons to famous actors and politicians, and to our own homegrown celebs. All appear to wear the virus as a badge of positive distinction.
But they are fine, they tell us, and they only inform us to let it be subtly known what brave little soldiers they all are. And every encouraging word spoken is Gospel truth. We are deeply impressed. Yeah, right.
Robert Sullivan, Bantry, Co. Cork.
THE coronavirus has a grip on the nation. Every day the stats add up: sadly more deaths and casualties; more isolation and avoidance of social contact; stress of rental payments and mortgage arrears; massive job losses and redundancies; huge tasks ahead.
The Taoiseach’s state of the nation address is well received, and we isolate ourselves turning to TV for companionship...
First up, an ad break and the threat of prison or a huge fine if we don’t have a TV licence. It’s issued on behalf of the Government. Nice one... Not.
How do the Government departmental advisers earn their money?
Dave Meehan, by email.