Letters to the Editor

Youths launch fireworks at the PSNI during the protests in Belfast. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

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Northern Ireland and the road to violence

Sir — The violent scenes between loyalists and nationalists in Belfast last week only confirm how very far there is to go in Northern Ireland before there is any normality — never mind any far-fetched idea of a united Ireland.

Objects are thrown towards PSNI officers with riot shields in Belfast during further unrest. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Letters to the Editor Opinion Both sides in the North need to dial down the rhetoric, or more serious violence could erupt

At a time in history when we look to commemorate our shared histories on this island, we are now looking at an upsurge of violence in loyalist enclaves, predominately in Belfast and Derry.

Police officers stand near their vehicles during a riot at Lanark Way in Belfast. Photo: Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

Letters to the Editor Opinion Rioting in Northern Ireland shouldn’t come as a surprise

I doubt anyone with even a scant knowledge of the history of the three decades of the Troubles in Northern Ireland is surprised by the rioting and petrol bombings of the past week.

Just because you can't go shopping doesn't mean you're lonely. Photo: Reuters/Daniel Munoz

Letters to the Editor Opinion Some perspective is needed on what it means to be lonely

Is it on me it is – to borrow from my rural Galway vernacular – but are your young, beautiful, intelligent and successful female journalists really lonely?

Nurse Guillermo Monzon prepares the Pfizer vaccine against coronavirus disease in Telde, on the island of Gran Canaria, Spain. Photo: Reuters/Borja Suarez

Letters to the Editor Opinion Letters Isolation, as a solution, will only ever bring us so far

The now-famous Brazilian, British and South African Covid variants all have one thing in common. They arose spontaneously, within a suitable host.

Paul Reid, the head of the Health Service Executive. Photo: Frank McGrath

Letters to the Editor Opinion CEO of the HSE? Keep it simple and just spell it out

Over the past weeks, the word-cluster “CEO of the HSE” has been repeated so often in the media that it has begun ringing in my ears like a mantra. This morning, I tested the expression on my French husband. As expected, he had no idea to whom or to what it referred.

Letters to the Editor Opinion Patrol the front line, Garda... but don’t expect an early jab

It's mind-boggling that An Garda Síochána, who are not priorities for vaccination, have to deal with incredibly selfish people who are happy to travel to Dubai for spurious reasons.

Easter time means... eggs. Isobel Conachy (10) from Slane, Co Meath, enjoys an Easter egg hunt. Picture by David Conachy

Letters to the Editor Opinion Calculating when Easter falls is down to an imaginary moon

Sir - The date on which Easter falls each year is determined by one of the most complex processes ever devised - a system which is hinged upon entirely imaginary phases of the moon.

“You got off eventually didn’t ye? Don’t be worryin’ about them back doors'. Photo Steve Humphreys

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Letters to the Editor Opinion The doors on the bus go... an open and shut case for common sense in the pandemic

One of the miraculous positives of the last 11 months is that Dublin Bus commuters and drivers alike have finally mastered the dark continental art of operating and using the centre doors on buses.

'The point about danger of infection to ministers and congregation in the current pandemic would have validity if there was any evidence that this had actually happened when the churches were open.' Photo: Kiran Ridley/Getty Images

Letters to the Editor Opinion The Church’s protocols make for a very safe environment

The letter from James Hardy (‘Believers are assured of God’s presence everywhere‘, Letters, March 31) is the latest in a line of letters published by you during this pandemic, all saying essentially the same thing – that church attendance is not that important, that God is ever-present to us as individuals and that this should suffice.

The late Dr Noel Browne was a member of Seanad Éireann between 1973 and 1977

Letters to the Editor Opinion So-called Seanad ‘losers’ included outstanding political figures

Joseph Kiely informs us that Seanad Éireann is “an elitist chamber of political losers which should be abolished” (Letters, March 31). I would raise two points .

Letters to the Editor Opinion Seanad is an elitist chamber for windbags and losers

It’s been a dreary few days if you happen to live in Ireland. First came the private Beacon Hospital looking after teachers in a private school in the vaccine programme.

A couple lights candles during Palm Sunday mass in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem, Sunday, March 28 2021. After a year of coronavirus restrictions, Holy Week celebrations are resuming. Photo: Maya Alleruzzo/ AP Photo

Letters to the Editor Opinion In Holy Week, let’s ask: How can we bridge differences?

The issue of the reunification of Ireland arises yet again. Historically prior to the Anglo-Norman ‘settling’ of Ireland the clans were usually warring with each other, stealing cattle, wives, etc, etc, resulting in poetry, sagas and stories.

Vials of AstraZeneca vaccine. Photo: Reuters/Dado Ruvic

Letters to the Editor Opinion ‘North and south’ would still be there post-renunification

Further to Manuel Baier’s letter (‘As the United Ireland movement grows, it’s worth looking to the example set by Germany’,

Online trolls usually target the person, and not the issue at hand

Letters to the Editor Opinion New rules required to curtail trolling across social media

Sir - I have been following with interest the growing debate on social media trolling of politicians and other public figures.

The Berlin Wall comes down in 1989. Photo: AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau

Letters to the Editor Opinion As the United Ireland movement grows, it’s worth looking to the example set by Germany

I was watching the united Ireland debate on Claire Byrne Live very keenly. I am originally from Germany. I grew up there and when the Berlin wall came down I was nine years old.

Jayson Molumby of the Republic of Ireland and Saša Lukic of Serbia in action during Wednesday night's World Cup qualifier in Belgrade. Photo: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Letters to the Editor Opinion Time has come for the island’s soccer teams to combine forces

Congratulations to Stephen Kenny and the new Boys In Green for a refreshing, uplifting and spirited performance in losing out, so narrowly, to Serbia in Wednesday’s World Cup qualifier.

Letters to the Editor Opinion Church alienating Catholics and all people of good will

With the advent of Pope Francis and his much-publicised response of “Who am I to judge?” to questions about his attitude to gay couples, I naively believed he would never endorse the thesis that same-sex unions cannot be blessed because God “does not and cannot bless sin”.

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar. Photo: Reuters/Toby Melville

Leo and Bertie have more in common than they ever knew

Fionnán Sheahan’s comment piece about Leo Varadkar’s current travails reminds us of the strong reactions the Fine Gael man has provoked since he first entered the Dáil in 2007 (‘Leo Varadkar becoming Taoiseach was a breath of fresh air for politics. Now there’s a stench hanging off him’, Irish Independent, March 20).

Deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn has asked people to do a little bit more to fight Covid-19. Photo: Colin Keegan/Collins Dublin

Letters to the Editor Opinion If anyone needs to try a little bit harder, it’s our leaders

The more I listen to Ronan Glynn and the more I read about Nphet and the HSE, the more my hope of us getting free of Covid-19 diminishes.

CJ Stander played his last game for Ireland on Saturday. Photo: Sportsfile

Letters to the Editor Opinion CJ Stander always wore the red and green with integrity

The possible reunification of Ireland (‘Reunification of Ireland must be based on something more subtle than headcount’, Michael Kelly, Comment, March 18) depends on more elusive considerations than the belief a referendum in the near future will support reunification as a reaction to the unsuccessful vote to stay within the EU. Or that a majority will vote in favour of reunification based on headcount and empty promises.

Letters to the Editor Opinion Parents need to keep Covid away from the school gates

Sir - As a grandparent who helps out with the school run, I would like to make a couple of observations about the appalling behaviour of too many parents in ignoring the rules of social distancing now the schools are back open again.

Letters to the Editor Opinion I have blessed rams, crops, cars, tractors – it seems strange to deny gay couples the same

I note the decree from the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome banning the blessing of same-sex unions (Irish Independent, March 16).

St Brendan's in Tralee, Co Kerry, will be unable to open its doors for Easter mass along with other churches across Ireland due to coronavirus restrictions. Photo: Domnick Walsh/Eye Focus

Letters to the Editor Opinion Denial of Easter services reminiscent of China

I wish to address the fact that so many letters have been published insisting churches should not reopen for public worship while referring to the Feast of Easter as “a major event on the Church calendar”, when in fact it is the most important Christian feast.

A vial with the AstraZeneca vaccine. Photo: Reuters/Hannibal Hanschke

Letters to the Editor Opinion Sedentary lifestyle caused by lockdown will cause blood clots

It seems that a small number of inexplicable clots are preventing the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

US President Joe Biden after stepping off Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House on Sunday after travelling from Wilmington, Delaware, where he and his wife Jill spent the weekend with family and friends. Photo: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

Letters to the Editor Opinion President Biden is in touch with his own Irish heritage

I give you a perfect quote on this particular day from President Joe Biden, who proclaimed March 2021 as Irish-American Heritage Month: “The story of the Irish the world over is one of people who have weathered their fair share of hard times, but have always come out strong on the other side.” A very happy St Patrick’s Day to all.

A homeless man takes shelter in the doorway of the Gaiety Theatre. Photo: Gerry Mooney

Letters to the Editor Opinion Housing crisis can be fixed by a focus on the public good

Reflecting on the ongoing housing situation in Ireland, it occurs to me that the current situation, ironically, has been partly driven by societal success over the last 60 years as the population has grown from three million to very nearly five million today.