Sir, - The recent influx of refugees to this country from repressive regimes in Africa and Europe and the attitudes expressed by Irish people towards them in the press and on radio has confirmed to me, at least, that we, as a race of people, are narrow minded and bigoted in general, with very few exceptions.
I would like to ask readers of this letter to remember Irish history, if they are familiar with it, and to bear in mind that Irish people have been dispersed to the four corners of the globe during the past two centuries, due to Irish poverty at home, a repressive political system, hunger and disease, in search of a better way of life for themselves and their families.
In 1847 the population of Ireland was approximately 8 million to 10 million. The population today is approximately 3.5 million. One third of the Irish population of today still continues to live in a comparative state of poverty but nothing in comparison with what has gone before. So, if talk of this so called Celtic Tiger is creating the myth that the Irish State has pulled itself up by its bootstraps and is now forging ahead in an unprecedented manner, let people remember that without the handouts from Europe the economy would be nowhere.
In other words, Irish people should remember where they have come from and should think twice before expressing hatred and racism against unfortunate people who find themselves forced to beg on the streets to sustain themselves and their families. Yours, etc.,
Castle Avenue,
Swords,
Co Dublin.