Great opportunity for young people to get more involved in our democracy

SIR, Friday’s vote was a victory for democracy. Despite everything that was written and said, all the prejudices, religious ideology and misogyny, the falsehoods, dogma and scare tactics, Irish democracy has weathered it all.

Through the Citizen’s Assembly and the Oireachtas committee and the referendum proper everybody got time to inform themselves and have their say.

Your paper through your letters page and opinion pieces cannot be faulted and credit is due to the much-maligned mainstream media in general for giving a voice to all those that wanted to be heard. And let’s never forget that not wanting to ask the people’s opinion because of one’s fear of change or ideological bent is always democracy’s greatest threat.

Wouldn’t it now be refreshing to encourage new writers and contributors to your paper on matters of public importance as we move into a more open-minded, inclusive and compassionate Ireland? This does not mean we throw out the old and inflexible but instead foster an environment where dynamic and talented young people in particular are encouraged to participate in our democracy at all levels and constantly challenge the status quo and old ways of thinking.

Some will no doubt view this rather lazily as liberalism versus conservatism (opposition to change and innovation) but it is much more than that. As has been once said, a mind is like a parachute, it’s of no use unless it’s open. And unfortunately we see the same people all the time opposing change for the wrong reasons and stifling progress in all its forms.

Ireland made history on Friday, which has reverberated around the world; it was a watershed for democracy and women’s rights. Let’s build on that now and encourage greater representation in our democracy at all levels and in particular on broadcast and print media. Sincerely,

Tom McElligott, Tournageehy,

Listowel.