At the height of the boom, we were being told through the media that stress was normal in the Western world and to get on with it.

The goring to death of several people this summer in Spanish bullrings has highlighted a most horrific form of organised animal cruelty.

While most forms of public displays of bigotry are thankfully a thing of the past, it appears from Hughie Hartigan’s contribution (Irish Examiner, Letters, August 19) that anti-Catholic bigotry is very much alive and well.

The appalling act of cruelty meted out to a family’s pet terrier dog who died after his throat was cut has been the subject of rightful condemnation (Irish Examiner, August 18).

Government plans to reduce unemployment, have always been nothing but a lot of hot air. The current talk about business start-ups is also hot air.

In a few weeks, parents of girls aged 12 and 13 will be asked an important question based on limited information and a lot of trust.

Serious public attention should be paid to the views of the 18 former Lords Mayor of Cork who oppose the abolition of Cork City and County Councils and replacing them with a ‘super council’. (Irish Examiner, August, 4)

At a recent public meeting held in Ballinacurra, Midleton, Co. Cork a question was raised regarding the waste of money on art sculptures in the town of Midleton and surrounding areas. 

I left home on Sunday morning last week at 10.15am to go to Semple Stadium to help out as a voluntary steward at the triple header hurling games at the venue.

Noel Harrington (Irish Examiner, Letters, August 18) commendably calls for the return to Ireland of the remains of the Manchester Martyrs executed in 1867.