Looking After Emigrants

Sir, - In an extract from his book on Irish emigrants, Wherever Green is Worn, Tim Pat Coogan (Weekend, September 2nd), referring…

Sir, - In an extract from his book on Irish emigrants, Wherever Green is Worn, Tim Pat Coogan (Weekend, September 2nd), referring to the exodus of emigrants in the 1940s and 1950s, writes: "Nobody talked about them - nobody did anything for them. Not true.

Archbishop John Charles McQuaid did quite a lot for them. In 1941 he set up the Emigrant Bureau, which established emigrant centres in the major cities of the UK to look after the social problems of our emigrants. He also arranged for priest-chaplains from most dioceses in Ireland to look after our people in Britain.

Bishop Eamon Casey - one of these - founded the organisation known as Shelter to provide decent living accommodation for young Irish couples. - Yours, etc.,

Con McGillicuddy CC, Parish of St Gabriel, Dollymount, Dublin 3.