Madam, – Although the effects of the weather conditions of late have been mostly negative, with businesses struggling to open, long traffic delays and school closures (a positive in some eyes); the “big freeze” has also brought about a touching camaraderie.
RTÉ news showed locals in rural towns shovelling ice and snow on the roads and pushing cars struggling to get mobile in the sludge. One man in the west, with the aid of his tractor, towed articulated lorries stuck on the outskirts of his town. And calls into radio stations from people thanking a number of bus drivers and taxi men for their patience were heart- warming in this otherwise chilly period.
We have always been a nation of caring and giving people, and although we lost some of that, along with our identity, over the last decade, we seem to be getting it back. May it continue – the camaraderie that is. – Yours, etc,
A chara, – I wish to congratulate the young teenager who was clearing the snow from the footpath outside the Costcutter on Taylor’s Lane, Ballyboden on Tuesday morning. Upon hearing that I wanted coal (there was none left in the shop and, of course, all the garages were sold out and the coal delivery people couldn’t deliver to the wheelspinning icy-roaded estates) he declared “I have a quad – I’ll bring it to you, How much do you need?” True to his word, about two hours later he was at my door with the coal.
Compare this to the evening before in the Superquinn car park in Knocklyon where frightened shoppers were being pelted with snowballs by a group of teenagers as they walked or drove, braving the elements to try to get some food for their families.
The young teenager with the quad gets my enterprise / entrepreneur / person of the year award.
What’s the opposite type of award? Whatever it is – I bestow it on the snowballers. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – We are both in our 60s and have been tobogganing in our garden on our children’s sledges which are 30 years old. Snow is such a rarity in west Cork but we have had so much fun and laughter, we just wish other people could have this experience. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – I would like to say a big thank you to all the Irish Rail/Luas staff that have made it possible for me and thousands of others to make our daily commute despite the conditions over the last week. Keep up the good work, it is much appreciated. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – How appropriate that the lowest temperature recorded in the country on Wednesday night was in Birr! – Yours, etc,