Has Féin To Place At Sinn Editor: The Earned Table Its Letters Well The Political

Sat, 30 Sep, 2023 - 01:00

Sinn Féin has well earned its place at the political table

Having read Jennifer Horgan’s column — ‘Sinn Féin has only one narrative and can never lead the country’ (Irish Examiner, September 22) — one would think we had never lived through the past 30 years of a peace process and political agreements that ended armed conflict.

The columnist shows no knowledge of the work of Sinn Féin in the past three decades. This has included engagement with people of all political persuasions and people who suffered at the hands of all combatants in the tragic conflict.

It has included a commitment to dialogue, finding common ground, and reconciliation.

It has included working at local council level and serving in an executive with representatives of diametrically opposing views, many of whom lost friends and family members, just as many Sinn Féin representatives did.

It is suggested by the columnist that in working for Irish unity Sinn Féin is somehow going beyond the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.

Not so. Jennifer Horgan needs to look at the political changes that have been happening in the North in recent years and to realise that the time has arrived for preparation for the Irish unity referendums provided for in the Good Friday Agreement.

Finally, it was somewhat insensitive that an article so scathing of Sinn Féin for alleged lack of empathy was illustrated with a photo of the funeral of the late Rita O’Hare.

Would an article critical of any other party be illustrated with a photo of the funeral of one of their recently deceased members?

Mícheál Mac Donncha, Cill Bharróg, Baile Átha Cliath

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Young voters won’t sway to old narrative

If one thing is certain before the next election, it is that an article bemoaning the Sinn Féin narrative of Irish history will appear every few weeks (Jennifer Horgan, September 22). It’s unlikely to have any real effect on its target audience of potential SF voters.

The young SF voter probably doesn’t read the traditional media that takes this critical eye. They wouldn’t have been alive during any of the violence.

I doubt they think too deeply about the meaning of any Wolfe Tones song and thus would be a mistake to equate singing a tune with acceptance of violent republicanism.

It would be a mistake too to assume the young are unaware of their history. They are. They just don’t see its relevance to their major issues — exorbitant house and rental prices.

There are, of course, many older Sinn Féin voters who are fed up with the health system and other establishment failings. They too are willing to overlook SF’s dark historical narrative. They expect SF to be a democratic party.

However, it’s only a matter of time before another article of this type appears.

William Lynch, Bray, Co Wicklow

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FAI should boycott Israel matches too

I welcome the news that the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) will continue to boycott playing international soccer with Russian clubs at any level. The FAI needs to bring the same commitment to international law to boycotting Israel. The U21 team played Israel earlier this year, which was shameful.

Israel has been breaking international law for over 50 years, by occupying territory won in war, refusing the right of return for refugees, and waging war on a civilian population.

The situation is what eastern Ukraine could look like in 20 years. Imagine if Russia refuses return refugees from Bakhmut, in a future Russian-run state. The question is, how long does occupation have to last to make it morally acceptable?

Boycotting Russia is a commendable, but easy move. It is equally justifiable but requires more courage to boycott Israeli games. We invented the boycott in Ireland — we can’t just apply it to certain countries because it’s politically easy.

In 2022, BDS (boycott, divest and sanctions) suddenly became popular against Russia. For years, people against Palestinian liberation had said it was racist, unfair to civilians and at best ineffective. Now we see it across the Western world against Russia.

The FAI should become a stand-out in sport to continue the momentum of boycotting Russia, and extend it to other pariah nations.

Fachtna O’Raftery, Clonakilty, Co Cork

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Drug smugglers and the Defence Forces

It is easy to relish the stupidity of the would-be drug smugglers who ran aground near Wexford. Also, it brings to mind the smugglers of Donlough Bay who put the wrong fuel in the tanks, and having the boats capsize, left bales of cocaine floating in the seas around them.

It also illustrates the important work done by An Garda, the Naval Service, and Defence Forces. The operation to rescue the two fools off the boat also involved the Coast Guard and the RNLI.

This is highly dangerous work vital to protecting all our citizens and national security. We need properly funded Defence Forces; it should be a bedrock of our democracy.

Noel Harrington, Kinsale, Co Cork

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Demolition of city flats

Re the article — ‘More than 100 run-down Cork flats to be demolished for redevelopment’ (Irish Examiner, September 29) — the council should definitely build new homes on the site. The conditions are appalling.

We’re supposed to be a first world country. It’s a pity some of the Lotto money cannot be used. After all, it’s a good cause. It is bordering on criminality having people live in such conditions.

Norann Keohane, Wilton, Cork

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Hard to keep up with political trends

It can be hard to keep up with who is Taoiseach these days.

All I can say is that Leo Martin and Micheál Varadkar have both distinguished themselves as leaders of the country and their respective parties, Fine Fáil and Fianna Gael.

One wonders if we might see Mary Lou Martin and Micheál McDonald dance the leadership tango in a future Sinn Fáil-Fianna Féin government.

Rob Sadlier, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16

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