Sir, - Fr Paul Clayton-Lea (August 30th) highlighted an emerging loss of hospitality and generosity in Ireland. We all experience this in, for instance, a lack of respect for property and bad manners on the road, but occasionally there are signs that humanity is still the hallmark of interpersonal relationships.
Recently I was in Nolan's Supermarket, Clontarf, Dublin on a busy afternoon and witnessed an act of kindness that impressed me enormously. An elderly lady, having processed her goods at the cash desk, realised that she had left her money behind. The cashier, whose accent suggested she may be English, packed her goods and suggested she leave her name and address and pay on her next visit. The lady left the store with both her shopping and dignity intact. Those of us behind her in the queue gained a renewed faith in humanity.
Generosity and hospitality are not dead. They simply need to be encouraged. - Yours, etc.,
Colm L. Humphries, Clontarf, Dublin 3.