Sir, – Former presidents Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese showed an affecting dismay and concern for Ukraine on the Late Late Show on RTÉ last week.
During both of their terms of office, I brought groups of eastern European women to Ireland as part of a project helping to equip women to participate in their developing democracies. A highlight of each visit was a generous and extensive visit to Áras an Uachtaráin where the women were greeted warmly and enjoyed dialogue with the president.
They were always unanimous in their later description of these sessions as both heart warming and encouraging.
I only hope that in these fraught and dangerous times, such excellent examples of democracy will still help to encourage belief in a better way forward. – Yours, etc,
GEMMA HUSSEY,
Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.