Admiration for ‘new’ Ivan Yates

Sir — Two writers (Letters, Sunday Independent, January 1) criticise Ivan Yates, who had been interviewed the previous week about his 100-day holiday in America. However, their feelings towards Mr Yates are misplaced in my opinion.

Ivan Yates spent 21 years as a politician, being first elected in 1981 at the age of 21. He retired from politics and set up Celtic Bookmakers which at its height had 64 shops providing thousands of jobs. When his business collapsed, he became a broadcaster and newspaper columnist. Rather than being criticised, he should be admired.

In another article in the paper, Niamh Horan mentions “bouncebackability”, the term first used by former Crystal Palace manager Iain Dowie.

Ivan Yates certainly possesses this trait. Too often in life we see people who are broken by the trials and tribulations that are thrown at them. It’s refreshing to see people like Ivan Yates continually reinvent themselves. They give hope to the rest of us who battle with life.

Keep up the good work, Ivan, and please “don’t get off the stage”. I look forward to reading about your next holiday and the next chapter in your life. Tommy Roddy,

Galway the media. It is so misleading to hear calls for debate when that is the last thing possible in Ireland on practically any issue, but especially those considered as non-PC.

As Brendan O’Connor stated, victimhood is rife with the result that facts are distorted in an effort to ensure that no one is offended. Of course, the exception to this is the Catholic Church and woe betide those who make any effort to explain its teaching and not just that presented in the media.

Could we please have articles by journalists who present both sides of the argument and allow us to make up our own minds?

It would be refreshing to have balanced and factual reporting rather than campaigning for certain PC causes and, maybe even actually have proper debates.

Is this really too much to hope for? Mary Stewart (Mrs), Donegal Town