A Diaspora disenfranchised

Sir, – Cheers for your Editorial encouraging the Irish at home to keep in touch with all of us who have found ourselves abroad…

Sir, – Cheers for your Editorial encouraging the Irish at home to keep in touch with all of us who have found ourselves abroad. But as you noted the ease with which we can keep in touch through modern communications and the powerful economic networks that have been developed with the Irish abroad around the world, it’s surprising that you left out any call for political engagement.

Our voteless status belongs to the days of the coffin ships and teary folk memories. It’s going to be increasingly difficult for Ireland to maintain a 21st-century relationship with its emigrants if it continues to cling on to the outdated mindset that requires disenfranchisement on departure. – Yours, etc,

NOREEN BOWDEN,

Akron Street,

Cambridge,

Massachusetts,

US.