Alison O’Connor doesn’t understand rural Ireland

I wish to draw your attention to the sarcastic attitude displayed by your columnist, Alison O’Connor towards the election of Mr. Michael and Mr. Danny Healy Rae as TD’s for Kerry on RTE on the weekend of the election.

Michael Healy Rae got a mandate of nearly 20,000 first preference votes from the people of Kerry and his brother Danny got over 10,000.

I am aware of people in my locality who travelled from their jobs in high finance in Dublin to vote for the above TDs - one particular person with a Masters in Finance Project Management.

I am aware of school staff with Phds and M. Ed’s who support the Healy Raes.

I was surprised by Ms. O’Connor’s inability to appreciate their ‘Patrick Kavanagh’ like understanding of rural Ireland.

I have always purchased the ‘Irish Examiner’ newspaper and appreciated Ms. O’Connors writings and debates on television.

As a published poet and teacher, I might suggest that she read the work of Patrick Kavanagh, poet and novelist, if she is to enrich her appreciation of truth in simplicity.

Noreen Ahern

Caragh Lake

Killorglin

Co. Kerry