Ashamed to be Irish

HAVING spent more than 45 years working, living and travelling in many countries, my wife and I were always comfortable in and proud of our Irishness, our history and culture.

Last week, however, when asked in Spain where were we from, we both simultaneously recoiled from answering immediately.

When discussing it afterwards, it disappointed us that we felt ashamed and hesitant to declare our nationality. We were ashamed because our great country, Taoiseach and government are daily being lampooned and denigrated.

We have again become the butt of ‘drunken Paddy’ jokes in the international media.

We are more ashamed, upset and angry because of the incompetence, corruption and squandermania of Fianna Fáil, from Haughey to Ahern and Cowen, which has needlessly decimated our once vibrant economy. We grieve for the loss of generations of our young people to forced emigration.

We also believe no one will ever be held accountable in the courts and that the perpetrators of these crimes against the Irish people will luxuriate in perpetuity with their outrageous pensions, compensation and golden handshakes.

John Cooney

Wilton Road

Cork