Letters: Unionist hierarchy is at fault for fiasco over Belfast bonfire

Irish Independent

20-07-2025

This showed a crass lack of understanding from someone born in Belfast, when a visit to engage by any of these three parties would not only have failed abjectly, but would also have posed a significant threat to their lives and limbs.
Indeed, I remember a visit by the singer and politician Dana, acting independently and in good faith, to my native Drumcree in an attempt to engage with protesters maintaining a long vigil at the church during one of the many violent parade impasses there in the late 1990s. She was immediately escorted off site by senior Orange officials 'for her own safety' (their words).
The real abdicators of responsibility were DUP leader Gavin Robinson and his deputy leader and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly (who was in the royal box at Wimbledon last week).
They not only failed to ­engage or visit the site, but portrayed legitimate opposition to it on the grounds of health and safety, ludicrously, as another attack on their culture.
Mervyn Gibson, a senior Orange­Order figure and Presbyterian ­minister, encouraged people to attend the asbestos-­ridden bonfire site and, I quote, 'enjoy themselves'.
The fact that the PSNI did not comply with Belfast City ­Council's democratic ­decision to dismantle the bonfire was not only an abdication of ­responsibility, but one that raises serious concerns about the continuing existence and ­malign influence of unionist paramilitaries, law enforcement and, ultimately, as to who actually runs Northern Ireland.
Tony Fearon, Poyntzpass, Co Down
Hopeless politicians are leaving us in lurch
Madam — It was so depressing to read Richard Curran ('Ireland can't afford to dismiss Trump's 30pc tariff threat', July 13) and Conor Skehan ('We will pay dearly for failing to apply a key test to big decisions', July 13) setting out clearly the awful mess we have created for ourselves.
We seem to suffer from a hopelessly incompetent political class, unable or unwilling to see where we have gone wrong and unwilling to take the radical decisions that are patently necessary to solve our numerous structural faults as a society.
The dogs in the street know what's wrong, but our politicians, of every party, only seem capable of wringing their hands and crying: 'Ochón, ochón, what's to be done?'
I respect Micheál Martin, but the man has never had a radical thought in his head. And the rest of them? They have their ministerial cars and they will make soothing noises from time to time indicating their concern. And I do acknowledge that they are concerned, but it's not enough to talk — they must do something.
When Donogh O'Malley, as minister for education, was making his way into the Dáil chamber many years ago to announce his plan for universal free secondary education, a senior civil servant ran after him imploring him not to do it as the finance was unavailable. If only he were here today.
Anthony Hanrahan, Salruck, Renvyle, Co Galway
We don't care about future generations
Madam — Conor Skehan's outstanding article last week is essential reading for every ­politician in Ireland.
He speaks of the 'common good', which is written in our Constitution, but is being completely ignored by our politicians, who are trying to please everyone. This means no decisions are made and our essential infrastructure projects move at a snail's pace.
I heard a Cork politician on the radio during the week saying the proposed Cork Luas might have its first passengers in 2040. Is this a joke? Planning processes cannot ride roughshod over objectors, but common sense must win out.
It's time for our politicians to grow a spine, make decisions for the 'common good' and think of the generations to come.
Maurice Curtin, Garryvoe, Co Cork
'Everyman' Tánaiste paying us lip service
Madam — I found myself laughing heartily on reading Mary Regan's interview with Tánaiste Simon Harris ('I do the supermarket shop — I get it. But I can't say I'm part of the squeezed middle', July 13).
He appears to be at pains to say that he is one of us. The big problem for the Tánaiste is that he cannot magic away the cost-of-living crisis with empathetic statements.
John O'Brien, Clonmel, Co Tipperary
Moaning over school costs is nonsense
Madam — It is now more ­expensive than ever to send your child back to school after the holidays, according to a report by the Irish League of Credit Unions.
This surprises me, as all schoolbooks are free for everybody, from primary to secondary. Some of our big retail stores just staged a price war on school uniforms — a full one can be bought for little as €15. Black runners are replacing expensive school shoes.
Some schools still require special crested jumpers, but most now just have a plain jumper of designated colour.
On top of this, a big grant is handed out yearly to cover the cost of getting your child kitted out if you are under a specific income threshold. A number of schools offer free lunches, and some even offer breakfast.
Back in the 1980s, I put four children through education. Because my husband was earning, a grant was out of the question. All books had to be bought and paid for. All jumpers were crested. A standard uniform would cost more than €40. There was no such thing as a free lunch, apart from Deis schools.
We always paid the necessary capitation fee for each child.
Did we complain? No. We prudently saved enough money throughout the summer to get us through. We accepted the struggle so that our children could be educated.
Sometimes I feel that the more handouts that are given, the more is expected. Now is a much better time for children's education compared with times of austerity. We should be grateful that such help is available.
C Dodd, Clonsilla, Dublin 15
Forget Gen Z stare: start valuing people
Madam — Saoirse Hanley's ­article on sitting in a pub and not engaging with those near her, reminds me of a trending topic on the internet at the moment: the 'Gen Z stare' ('Is refusing to engage in small talk the perfect example of boundary-setting – or just a symptom of Gen Z rudeness?', Life, July 13).
The 'Gen Z stare' is described as a long, blank expressionless or disengaged stare in a variety of social situations but particularly by those working in customer-facing situations.
Some experts argue that Gen Z are being misjudged while others contend the 'Gen Z stare' represents something deeper, more meaningful and far more serious than what you see on the surface.
Gen Z, those currently aged between 13 and 28, have a lot going on. They value authenticity, dislike hierarchical structures and many will have a completely different language to those of us who grew up without smartphones and the internet.
We're all aware of rude customer service, but it seems the Gen Z stare is taking this to another level. All the more reason then to value highly the person that looks you in the eye with a smile as they ask how your day has been while they pour your pint, fix your flat white or dispense your prescription.
Tom McElligott, Tournageehy, Co Kerry
MetroLink chief's salary an eye-opener
Madam — Having been born in England to Irish parents, I always remember my father's reaction to things that would be unlikely to come to pass. 'When's that going to happen, Dad?' we would ask. The answer: 'When Nelson gets his arm back.'
This came to mind as I read Niamh Horan's interview with MetroLink's Sean Sweeney ('If my minister doesn't trust me, I would need to go', July 6).
I was astounded to learn that there is a chief executive of a project where a single sod has yet to be turned, and on a salary of €550,000. Not bad for a project that will probably never get the go-ahead, never mind reach completion.
Mike Burke, Sixmilebridge, Co Clare
Kilkenny arrogance cost them semi-final
Madam — Eamon Sweeney writes that Kilkenny, their supporters and the viewers at home were blackguarded because of a mix-up on the scoreboard during their All-Ireland semi-final against Tipperary.
Granted, the players look on the scoreboard as a way to check the score but, as Sweeney himself said, on five occasions Kilkenny turned down point-scoring opportunities to try for a goal instead. If they had gone for points, and scored, they would have won the game.
Kilkenny's arrogance lost them the game. Someone made a mistake — get over it.
Pat Duffy, Limerick
Our morality compels us to enact Israeli bill
Madam — I read David Quinn's article ('Our foreign ­policy is a baffling mess', July 6) and Philip Hannigan's supporting letter ('Anti-Israel stance has isolated our nation', July 13).
I disagree with Mr Quinn as I believe enacting the Occupied Territories Bill is a moral and ethical thing to do. If, as Mr Hannigan warns, the US may impose special sanctions against Ireland as a result, then that tells us how warped the world's moral compass has become.
We in Ireland can't do much, but we can enact this bill and send a clear message to Israel and the US that we abhor their treatment of the Palestinians.
There most likely will be negative consequences for us, but that doesn't mean we should stay silent and do nothing.
At least I am allowed to ­disagree with you, Mr Quinn and Mr Hannigan, and not have negative consequences for ­myself. I suspect if I was ­writing to a paper in the US or maybe even in Britain, I would be accused of being antisemitic.
Mairéad Holsgrove, Terenure, Dublin 6W
Orphans dined on a rare 'royal' sturgeon
Madam — While reading about the sturgeon ­recently caught off Kerry ('Caviar-­producing sturgeon 'extinct in Irish waters' found off Valentia Island', July 13) I was reminded that one of my father's fishing trawlers had also caught one in relatively recent times — off Hook Head back in 1962.
My father, John Baldwin, forewent the value of the rare fish (but reimbursed his crewmen for loss of earnings) when he presented the rare 'royal' sturgeon to president Éamon de Valera. There was a tradition that the fish would be the property of the nation's leader.
Mr de Valera in turn authorised the passing-on of the fish to the Good Shepherd Convent in ­Waterford city to be used as food for the orphans living there.
Tom Baldwin, Midleton, Co Cork
Cass Review's hard lessons are ignored
Madam — I was struck by the letter criticising the Cass Review ('Cass Review shown to have deep flaws', July 13).
The Cass Review is not a political document. It is a comprehensive and sobering analysis of how experimental treatments, including puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones, ­became normalised for ­distressed ­children without robust ­evidence of long-term benefit.
We are now seeing thousands of young people across multiple countries coming forward to say they were harmed by ­medical interventions they were too young to understand and too vulnerable to ­question.
The ­pattern is increasingly clear: poor evidence, weak oversight and ideological capture.
And now, in true Irish ­tradition, we are being told to ignore the warning signs yet again. Because why learn from the ­mistakes of other ­countries when we can repeat them ­ourselves with even greater ­enthusiasm? It worked so well with symphysiotomies, didn't it, when women were maimed for decades while the rest of the world moved on.
Perhaps in 30 years we'll be holding state inquiries, lighting candles and wondering how on earth it all happened. Again.
Sarah Holmes, Newcastle, Co Wicklow
Summer is only a rumour up north
Madam — Naoise Dolan may loathe the sun in Dublin, but some of us up north wouldn't mind the chance to loathe it more often ('No, I am not enjoying 'the lovely weather' — but I do like a whinge', July 13).
Here in Armagh, summer is a rumour. We get about three days of it — and two are usually damp. SPF remains mostly theoretical. And as for tourists blocking pavements, we're just pleased someone's found us.
While I admire Ms Dolan's defence of Irish whingeing, I must gently point out that ­pessimistic small talk isn't uniquely Dublin's. In the North, we've elevated it to an art form — we just do it while watching the rain fall sideways.
So let Dublin stew in its sunshine. Up here, we measure summer not in degrees but in glimpses — a shaft of light on a gable wall, the brief scent of cut grass before the drizzle returns. We don't need the sun to be grateful. We just need it to show up now and then, unannounced, like a cousin from Belfast.
Enda Cullen, Tullysaran, Co Armagh
Dublin's postal woes given scant regard
Madam — I always enjoy the unique contributions from ­Declan Lynch. However, his focus on 'rural post offices ­closing' ('Post office closures give me double vision', July 13) once again raises the often-ignored impact of 'national' decision-making on Dublin.
In addition to the closure of too many post offices in rural Ireland, every post office in ­Dublin 4 closed down in recent years with not a whimper from any media, particularly the so-called public service broadcaster based in the heart of the area.
Dermot Lacey, Donnybrook, Dublin 4
Little Richard was bought for a song
Madam — Declan Lynch tells us in his radio review ('Magical musical tour led by the great O'Connor') that Little Richard earned but a pittance from the sales of his hit Tutti Frutti. A case of 'good golly less lolly'?