The Gift Houses now for sale in Kinsale were built in 1682, over 333 years ago by Sir Robert Southwell to house the widows of tradespeople and craftsmen. 

Re: the article “Ó’Ríordán: Lift ban on gay blood donors” (Irish Examiner, September 28); your columnist uses the word celibacy where it seems he means abstinence from sexual activity. 

The drip feed of information regarding Nama matters is deeply disturbing, given this publicly funded body claims to be acting in the interest of citizens. 

War does not solve problems. On Monday, British-made Saudi warplanes attacked a wedding party near Mocha in Yemen. 

Daily, the pre-budget media coverage highlights the demands for taxpayers’ money by every vested interest in the country. At the same time, the media keep warning us that it would be irresponsible to have any element of auction politics in the run up to an election.

A musical has been produced about a group of feminists who brought contraceptives from the North back to the South in the 1970s.

Now that the tedious Jack Grealish saga is over, would not Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane look closer to home and give a chance to skilful young players such as Dundalk’s Richie Towell, who would love to play for Ireland without having to emigrate?

Here we go again re a rake of reannouncements. 

The UK government and mainstream media say Syria president Bashar Al-Assad is killing his own people in Syria. 

“...after all, if biology isn’t central to the experiences that have become known as mental illness, what special expertise do psychiatrists really possess ?”