Mary’s inner Bob

As a former president, surely Mary McAleese could use her considerable clout and influence much more effectively?

Her recent well-intentioned initiative, which included a synchronised display of bell-ringing, was meant to focus attention on rising xenophobia and, in her own words, ‘drown out the siren voices of racial and religious intolerance’. (Waterford Cathedral Sunday, March 19). I hope it didn’t fall on deaf ears.

She should help organise more worthwhile initiatives, which would improve relations in racially mixed communities and increase better cross-cultural understanding, instead of wasting her time with pseudosolidarity events such as bell ringing. Perhaps Mary should try to find the Bob Geldof inside herself ? Laurence Slean, Dublin 7.