Cowen on the radio — an outside view

I HAVE just spoken to a neighbour whose son moved to Canada five years ago. Apparently what astonished the Canadians most about Brian Cowen’s Morning Ireland interview wasn’t his ramblings on the radio, but the subsequent interview with his colleagues cheering him on like he’d scored the winner in a hockey match.

My neighbour’s son said he’d never felt as ashamed as he did watching ministers laughing and applauding Cowen like he was a hero.

So not only are young people having to leave the country to find work — they now have to contend with the renewed ‘drunken Paddy’ image when they get there. Makes you proud, doesn’t it?

Brian Hopkins

Mount Drummond Square

Harolds Cross

Dublin 6