A new St Patrick to banish the snakes from Ukraine

PERHAPS it is a consequence of the times we are living in – two years of a world pandemic and the return of war in Europe – that sharpened my sensitivities as the nation celebrated St Patrick’s Day this week.

At my local parade, and in the media coverage of parades around the country, I was struck by the diversity of communities from across the globe that have come to live among us. Their enthusiasm in being part of our national day speaks volumes about how multifarious cultures can live together and integrate with the native society for the common good.

And then the sights and sounds of a bombed-out Mariupol assail the senses, the grotesque consequence of one nation trying to obliterate another.

Banishing the snakes and other slithering reptiles that threaten Ukraine calls for a 21st-century version of Maewyn Succat (St Patrick’s real name). So for the sake of Ukraine, its people and all democratic societies, it is quickly coming to the point when the western world needs to provide Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with a crozier.

Michael Gannon, Kilkenny city.

Lessons from history

HAVING studied history briefly, I was always puzzled as to why so many of the historical figures who somehow managed to become leaders of their people thought killing innocent children was good for the world’s future. Seemingly nothing has changed.

Richard Barton, Maynooth, Co. Kildare.

Well done, Poland

I WOULD like to join with Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney in praising all Polish citizens. Since the start of this war, the Polish people have gone beyond the call of duty.

They have hosted Ukrainians in their apartments. They have driven them to places. They have given them money to cover basic needs. It seems that restaurants and shops in Poland have also given discounts to Ukrainians. Services such as trains have been provided for free too.

Well done Poland for stepping up to the plate.

John O’Brien, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary

Woke or awake?

IVANA BACIK of Labour is ‘to give up on rural vote and focus on “woke” Dubliners, said senior party sources’ (Mail on Sunday).

Seeing Ms Bacik on her bicycle does not change the fact that she was a senator the last time

Labour was in government with Fine Gael. She was part of Labour’s parliamentary party and obviously agreed with all the cuts and charges inflicted on working people and pensioners at the time.

Some Dubliners may be “woke” but most of us have been wide awake to Labour since the last time they were in power.

Dennis Dennehy, Dublin

Long live St Patrick

KELLIE HARRINGTON and Ellen Keane were deserving grand marshals of the St Patrick’s Day parade in Dublin this week, after their Olympic glory last summer.

The proud Irish-American, John C Reilly, could not contain his glee at getting here for the big day and they were all great on the Late Late Show.

But, poignantly, while we were enjoying all that is good about Ireland, the land of saints and scholars, the people of Ukraine were to the forefront of our minds, as Russia began killing innocent men, women and children in its ruthless invasion, with images of the suffering of Ukrainians flashed across our TV screens.

Long live the spirit of St Patrick’s Day and world peace.

Noel Harrington, Kinsale, Co. Cork

Biden’s Irish joke

WHO says President Biden does not always know what he’s talking about?

‘I just want you to know, I may be Irish but I’m not stupid,’ was the president’s opening quip during a St Patrick’s Day speech in the White House.

It’s no wonder Taoiseach Micheál Martin could not meet the president. Bono the poet, take note!

Padraic Neary, by email

Party’s off the rails

WHILE I wish Ivana Bacik well as – it seems almost definite – she becomes the next leader of the Labour Party, I was disheartened to read that the party is split over Dublin’s MetroLink rail line.

Yet again, we are arguing over an essential service that is just going to become another never-to-be-completed expensive fantasy.

Forget ‘identity’ politics, let’s just get things moving.

P Murphy, Navan, Co. Meath

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