Ryder Cup image of Ireland is a distortion

MICHAEL MOYNIHAN’S hatred and disapproval of the Ryder Cup 2006 (Irish Examiner, GolfPlus, September 22) has given me immense psychological comfort — there are now two people in the whole country that truly believe this event is nothing short of a vulgar portrayal to the outside world of our so-called economic success.

This pomp, extravagance, style, glamour and fashion, with images of convoys of private jets at Dublin Airport, heli-pads near the venue, Iraq-type security and exorbitant capital used to stage the event, might satisfy the Government’s obsession to sell Ireland as a thriving nation.

The Ryder Cup 2006 image of Ireland is a contradiction and distortion of how at least 90% of our citizens are surviving economically.

If we hold the position of being close to the top of the success league table of Europe, could anyone tell me where all this wealth and prosperity is visible in our everyday lives?

Our justice system is surviving on daily political gimmicks, the latest stunt being the Garda reserve to address a losing battle with crime. Our education gurus have a compulsion for large classes and low salaries.

Communications are years behind our European partners. Agriculture is being carried out on only a portion of our available land, while we need to import food to survive.

Our aching State health promises and strategies are dying with people waiting for lifesaving procedures. One example out of many is when Labour’s Liz McManus recently noted that only one A&E consultant’s post has been filled in the past three years, in the whole country.

You ask former members of Ireland’s popular industries like Donegal’s Fruit of the Loom, Waterford Glass, our country’s sugar factories and numerous others how they feel in relation to the investment and extravagance spent in Kildare showcasing Ireland’s “so-called” prosperity.

In the midst of our Taoiseach’s personal troubles, he admitted that the social gap between the well-off and others has widened considerably, fuelled by what he termed “sheer greed and capitalism”.

In contrast to the minority upper class that attended the K Club, the other 90% are living on a different economic planet. The Celtic Tiger only roars to the socially chosen few.

Kevin Jordan

Village View

Clashmore

Co Waterford