Sir, – Unlike Finn McRedmond (“We’re meant to bask in Saoirse Ronan’s feminist triumph, but I find it all a bit nauseating”, Opinion & Analysis, October 31st), I was very proud of Saoirse Ronan on the Graham Norton Show last week. Eddie Redmayne told the show that for his new role in The Day of the Jackal he was trained how to defend himself using a mobile phone. Paul Mescal jokingly responded “Who is actually going to think about that?”, to which Saoirse responded “That’s what girls have to think about all the time”. Silence followed.
Well said. – Yours, etc,
EVELYN MAHON, FTCD
School of Social Work and Social Policy,
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Trinity College Dublin,
Dublin 2.
Sir, – Finn McRedmond squandered a column in explaining to us how vacuous, contrived, and ridiculous chat shows are.
What she doesn’t take into account is that they are often highly entertaining. Yes, the anecdotes are well polished, but they are also usually well delivered, and often become popular YouTube clips to be watched by millions. Graham Norton’s viewing figures would not be as high as they are if his show was not providing his audience with an enjoyable experience. The remote control is ever at hand to escape boredom.
Into this bubble of froth and fun Saoirse Ronan’s short interjection brought a moment of cold reality. Its shock value was heightened by the frivolity of the proceedings. It will not change anything but it was a moment of truth.
She did not engineer the viral reaction, and it seems to me that Finn McRedmond’s response is rather mean-spirited. – Yours, etc,
GEMMA McCROHAN,
Dublin 16.
Sir, – Why does Finn McRedmond write “Amirite, ladies?” when quoting Saoirse Ronan on the Graham Norton Show? Tabloid headline writers sometimes employ a similar technique but at least they have the saving grace of trying to be amusing. Not so in this case. Smatterofopinion, I know, but this is mine. – Yours, etc,
SEAN O’BYRNE,
Sallins,
Co Kildare.