Sir, - There has been much comment in your paper over recent days (December 30th, January 8th, January 14th) on living among the poor. As a sister who has opted to live in an inner city Corporation flat, I wish to offer the following reflection.
In spite of the serious neglect of these communities by successive governments, life on these "reservations" has many positive features. The neighbourliness is akin to that experienced in the country village where I grew up, or to the barrio in the Philippines where I worked for more than 10 years. Also so many families have been touched by drugs or AIDS that the community has an enormous capacity to understand and support those who suffer in these ways.
Indeed, I have been enriched myself by the generous spirit of the people amongst whom I live and work. One almost wonders if the "reservations" might not be the real universities for our modern Ireland? - Yours, etc.,
7B Oliver Bond House,
Dublin 8.