No point — let them sing for their supper

THE old saying that charity begins at home was proved true once again during the Eurovision Song Contest when all countries gave the credit to their near neighbours.

Ireland had to depend on Britain to avoid being whitewashed.

All the more ironic when at the moment we have a number of aslyum seekers domiciled here from some of the countries which did not see fit to award us even one point.

Even though we have several non-govermental agencies permanently seeking funds and other aid with a view to befriending the countries concerned, they all ignored us.

A glaring instance was Belarus which Ireland has been funding and befriending for 18 years through the intercession of Adi Roche. They ignored us completely and gave their 12 points to Russia, the very country that irradiated them 18 years ago.

Only a few weeks ago, a group of volunteers led by Adi Roche received huge publicity when they left Kildare in a fleet of lorries and ambulances all packed with aid for Belarus.

Each summer a number of children are brought here from that region to be looked after by local families.

Adi Roche, in thanking us for our generosity, suggested that the people of Belarus would do something similar for Ireland if the circumstances were reversed.

Now we know they don’t even know where Ireland is, so it’s time to cop on and let charity begin at home.

Jack McCarthy,

‘Seascape,’

Ballymacoda,

Co Cork.