It’s about time the ‘quiet people’ were heard

Over 12,000 people took to the streets of Waterford in an unusual show of solidarity last week.

Apparently every strata of society and life in the city and surrounding hinterland took part in what has been described as a major display of strength for a population that has not always acted in a co-ordinated way. The source of the anger is primarily the proposed plans to significantly downgrade the regional hospital, but there are many other justifiable sources of dissatisfaction.

I went to boarding school in the city and hence try not to visit it too often as I have too many bad memories. However, whenever I do visit, the lack of economic life in the city is very palpable and very depressing. The local rate of unemployment is estimated at over 20%, which is well above the national average of 14.8%.