Mary, you can help save young lives by driving a sliothar through alcohol adverts

A PRIEST from Donegal, interviewed on TV, came across as a very decent but deeply concerned man who was trying to deal with the deaths of five young people at 3am a week ago last Saturday and another young man at 3am a week ago yesterday.

At that moment, on the table in front of me, there was a newspaper with a photo of Health Minister Mary Harney striking a sliothar with a hurley.

She was in Croke Park to publicise a GAA drive against irresponsible drinking.

In view of the tremendous work done by hundreds of selfless GAA members all over the country I am reluctant to criticise and yet, as I think back on the wonderful hurling final between Cork and Galway, I wonder why it had to be called the Guinness All-Ireland hurling final?

So, what to do?

Simple, Mary. Instead of GAA, think BAA (Ban Alcohol Advertising). Do it now if only for the sake of all those young people who haven’t died at 3am - yet.

Brendan Casserly

Abbeybridge

Waterfall

Co Cork