We will always have fascination with what goes on in America

Mr Joe O’Connor (Letters, Nov 8) wonders why Irish citizens must be so interested in US presidential elections and why we cannot instead focus on our own country and its issues.

I can inform Mr O’Connor that the country did not grind to a halt while people here followed the recent election, and that life went on regardless.

We are still coping, or trying to cope, with the economy. We are still getting on with our lives, and we are still addressing whatever issues we each come across as best we can.

Our Government is attempting to deal with the same issues on a larger scale, and though their effectiveness is another debate, it is through our Government that we hope to finally solve the problems we now face.

I would ask Mr O’Connor what, if he was living here now, would he personally do to solve the country’s problems?

Our national problems do not mean that we, as Irish citizens, cannot do other things at the same time.

Ireland and America have a particular link with each other, and what happens in the US is always going to be of interest to us here.

Never mind that the fact that such goings-on are generally of interest to the entire world — not least when a presidential election is involved!

Even to those not particularly interested in politics, the theatrics and pageantry of modern presidential elections make for entertaining viewing.

Mr O’Connor has every right to ask that citizens of other countries not comment on his own, but for as long as the US remains the large, influential world power it has been for the past several decades, what happens there and who it elects as its leader are always going to be of importance and of interest to the rest of the world.

Mr O’Connor talks about our pride, but surely his own pride in America would be dented if the world suddenly decided the US didn’t matter any more.

Jason Kelleher

Ballincurrig

Co Cork