Midwinter cheer

Sir, – Thank you for your beautifully written leader on nature (“The Irish Times view on Ireland in midwinter”, December 23rd).

It struck a chord at this time of the year.

We need to turn to nature while in the outdoors or city parks, as we admire the flora and fauna. The trees reveal their highly distinctive architecture and reveal birds and little animals that would otherwise be hidden.

The description of birds in estuaries and beaches on their exquisitely kinetic flight patterns gladdens the heart and mind.

Kamala Harris is a descendant of an Irish slave owner in Jamaica

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I went to Center Parcs abroad. Was it any cheaper than Ireland?

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Ukraine’s street pianos play on a decade after debuting during Maidan revolution

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Fine-tuning the Galway team began at the back of a classroom 35 years ago

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Eyes wide open indeed to raise our spirits. – Yours, etc,

MARY DUNDON

Dublin 18.