Sir, – I used to look up to our country’s presidents. What should I do in the future? – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Winston Churchill once said “America can always be counted on to do the right thing – after it has exhausted all other possibilities”. It appears that the Irish electorate has finally reached that level of maturity. Congratulations President-elect Higgins! – Yours, etc,
Sir, – On Thursday I stood in the polling booth with a list of seven less than magnificent candidates to choose from, none of whom I found appealing.
I then realised what was missing from the ballot paper – a quick- pick option. Finally a use for the electronic voting machines perhaps? – Yours, etc,
Sir, – What a pity that it will appear to history that it took him from “up there” to show us how we should vote “down here”! – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Would it be too much to thank Martin McGuinness for paving the way for Michael D Higgins to become the ninth President of Ireland and preventing a unthinkable slip back to brown envelope politics? Michael D is a superb choice and Martin is the hero of the hour. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – During The Frontline Presidential debate Martin McGuinness asserted in response to a question from the audience that Derry was “every bit as Irish as Cork”.
My initial reaction to this was a negative one. I agreed with the questioner that Derry is part of a different political entity and there is a qualitative difference with regards to the independence and Irishness of the 26 counties and the neighbouring six.
Upon reflection, though, I concluded that because the people of Cork trade in a foreign currency controlled by an overseas central bank, speak the Queen’s English, vote representatives to a parliament which does not have final say on the national budget and is about to lose control of taxation policy, Cork is about as Irish as Derry. – Yours, etc,