Understanding the recent past

A knowledge gap

Sir, – Una Mullally wrote last month: “It is incredibly patronising to say young people in Ireland don’t understand their history or the past. If anything, these new generations are profoundly engaged with the past . . .” (“What does it mean to say ‘Up the Ra’?”, Opinion & Analysis, October 13th).

A Behaviour & Attitudes poll in last Sunday’s Sunday Times shows this not to be the case. According to the survey, half of people aged 18 to 34 admitted they did not feel they understood the history of the Northern “Troubles”.

One in four said they either “didn’t know” or had “no opinion” on whether they supported the Belfast Agreement. – Yours, etc,

ANDY POLLAK,

READ MORE

Rathmines,

Dublin 6.