Sir, – Huge credit is due to the National Emergency Response Committee.
There’s no doubt but that casualties would have been much greater had there not been such a coordinated, decisive approach. – Yours, etc,
MARIA O’ROURKE,
Carlow.
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Sir, – As the clean-up begins, comparisons will be made with other extreme events and the record books consulted.
I’m fairly confident that, if we can find a way to measure it, we will find we have broken the world record for the most people talking about the weather at the same time. – Yours, etc,
BRIAN O’BRIEN,
Kinsale,
Co Cork.
Sir, – I read that Ophelia reached speeds of up to 190km/h and generated 200ft waves. Does this indicate an editorial preference for using the international system of units only for things we can’t see and using traditional units for the things we can measure with our eyes? – Yours, etc,
DERMOT O’ROURKE,
Lucan,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – I wonder will any children who were born in Ireland on this day be called Ophelia? – Yours, etc,
JOAN BOURKE,
Carbury,
Co Kildare.
Sir, – Maybe it’s a rather old-fashioned thought, but I wonder how many baby girls born on or around June 2018 might be named Ophelia? – Yours, etc,
MARIE
ROWLEY-BROOKE,
Nenagh, Co Tipperary.
Sir, – Should members of the public, who despite national warnings, deliberately engage in irresponsible activities and put their own lives and the lives of their rescuers at risk, be prosecuted for their behaviour? – Yours, etc,
LOUIS O’FLAHERTY,
Santry,
Dublin 9.
Sir, – Over the past few days media and official bodies have been providing us with up-to-date meteorological information to prepare for and respond to Ophelia.
These insights have been derived from geographical skills and tools.
Let this be a timely reminder for Government to ensure geography’s continuing important place in the education system. – Yours etc,
Dr RICHARD SCRIVEN,
NUI Galway.
A chara, – It is incomprehensible that there were people swimming in Galway, kite-surfing in Louth and sailing in Wexford during Hurricane Ophelia. It is recklessly irresponsible for any individual to put the lives of our emergency services personnel or any life, including their own, at any unnecessary risk, not to mention the potential expensive costs of any rescue and the possible heartbreak they could cause to so many family and friends. – Is mise,
JASON POWER,
Dartry,
Dublin 6
Sir, – The storm still rages as I write this. I would like to send my heartfelt thanks to all the men and women who have worked to look after their fellow citizens.
The agencies and departments involved in the early warnings and continued updates deserve praise.
Deaths have occurred, and there are families immersed in grief, and my heart goes out to them. – Yours, etc,
MAURA MacKEOGH,
Glenageary,
Co Dublin.