Sir, - I am a 30-year-old Irish citizen. Like many Irish people, I was forced to leave Ireland during the late 1980s to seek employment. I have lived in Reading, London, Amsterdam, Hong Kong and Sydney and visited many other countries.
In most of the countries where I lived I was subjected to quite a lot of racism. Along with many other Irish citizens this affected my ego and my self-confidence in a negative way. I will never forget this. It is difficult not to resent those who behaved in a racist manner towards me.
I would like to urge the people of Ireland to try to be tolerant towards immigrants. If we look after our immigrants, they will remember that. If we do not, they will remember that also.
If we fail to create a cosmopolitan and anti-racist atmosphere in this country then we will let ourselves down. - Yours, etc.,
Yvonne Kavanagh, Lillyville, Summerhill North, Cork.