No winners at Aintree when whip is used
I WAS sad to witness the brave little horse in the lead at the Aintree Grand National as it received several belts of the whip approaching the finish.
Is it ever right to cause hurt to any creature? A well-known racing pundit has said a smack on the behind does no harm. I would like to challenge him and any jockey to try it themselves.
There are jockeys who have become famous using the whip to gain victories. There are others who are equally famous who rarely use a whip. The race itself is about money and big egos. Its certainly not about sport, or the welfare of animals or riders.
HARRY MULHERN, Dublin.
Farewell to a legend
BIG Tom McBride was a unique character and was cherished by all who knew him in a country music career that spanned five decades.
From Castleblayney to the Galtymore in Cricklewood where all the Irish used to love his music, he made them feel at home with his Monaghan accent.
It reflected the lives of those who cherished him as the undisputed king of Irish country and western music.
Very few entertainers enjoy such a long career or bring such happiness to followers on both sides of the Irish Sea. May Big Tom rest in peace. NOEL HARRINGTON,
Kinsale, Co. Cork.
FBI are true heroes
IF we look to the past, with the TV show The FBI staring Efrem Zimbalist Jr, we see the FBI were the ‘good guys’ and nobody doubted their character.
Now we see a president describing the past FBI director, James Comey, as a slimeball and saying that he lied under oath. Nearly all people in the real world see the FBI and its leadership as honest and unbiased. There have been mistakes and corrupt people, but rarely in the leadership. We still need to believe in the FBI and the people who protect us. DENNIS FITZGERALD,
Melbourne, Australia.
Brexit is no blunder
‘WE are all Irish in this regard and we stand clearly behind our Irish friends.’ So said a guy named Manfred Weber of the European People’s Party, speaking with regard to Brexit/Irish border issues. What a pity the EU did not ‘stand behind Ireland’ when our clear referendum votes were rejected twice by that dictatorship and we had vote again until they got the answer they wanted.
It would be laughable if it was not so tragic, mired as were in mega austerity which has become mainstream EU policy for little countries such as Ireland.
We are now also being forced to reject the will of the British people. This is so-called EU democracy in action. Being in the EU will see off poverty, good banks and economically crippled mortgageholders? Let’s not fool ourselves that Britain is making a grave mistake. It is not. ROBERT SULLIVAN, Bantry, Co. Cork.