Going south

damien

"Ireland’s financial figures would only make sense to an autistic Chinese astrophysicist."

This sentence sums up the prejudicial tone of the article. Myers manages to compound injury with insult towards autistics, Chinese, astrophysicists and to Irish citizens. In carelessly misdirecting his focus and anger away from politicians and terrorists, he undermines a potentially well-intented polemic.

David

Damien needs to be a little less sensitive. I doubt whether autistics, Chinese people, astrophysicists or Irish citizens (except those that vote Fianna Fail) are at all insulted or injured by Mr Myers' remarks. Kevin Myers is spot on about the appalling record of the self-styled Soldiers of Destiny, and the stupidity of that part of the electorate (always a minority) which votes for them.

Dr Christine O'Dowd-Smyth

Dear Editor,

I wondered where Mr Myers had taken his particularly vitriolic and resentful brand of Ireland-hating journalism after he left the Irish Times newspaper.To my astonishment, a quality publication like the Spectator is now publishing Mr Myers ranting, which I can see has got even worse in crossing the Irish sea. Mr Myers is not qualified to write about Ireland. There are many fine Irish and British journalists who can be relied on to write a fair and balanced commentary on Irish affairs. Mr Myers is neither.

James

Dr Smyth must be aware that Kevin Myers writes a daily column for the Irish Independent. I'm not sure what 'qualification' one needs to write a column, but its daily appearance in the country's best-selling paper would appear to suffice. Would she care to tell us what parts of this Spectator column she finds unfair or unbalanced?

John

I always enjoy Myers. He is so completely over the top I cannot take him seriously. He tries so, so hard to be controversial.Bless him. God loves a trier Kevin.

William Lambton

I write from Co. Galway.

Mr Myers maintained 'An Irishman's Diary', weekdays, for a good few years at the Irish Times. I read most of those articles. His loathing of physical force republicanism, and the method used of mythologising fragmentary historical fact to justify its modern incarnation (i.e. post-1916), was a strong feature, but rubbed against the grain of received political wisdom - he was really saying what I also think, namely that physical force republicanism never served Ireland or Irish people, its only acheivement the division of this island nation.

It is not that long ago that the young were told, that is effectively ordered, by their seniors to vote Fianna Fáil. An alternative was considered unconscionable. This occurs when violence has been used and must be justified, the alternative painful self-examination (and who likes that?!).

He's a good writer and has in his time dug into some of the more obscure features of Irish history, such as the fate of former RIC men.

Ireland's current situation was caused by greed, mainly the greed of the already wealthy. That inchoate behaviour within the elite was tolerated, and the splashing about of money applauded, stems from the country's continued failure to address purposefully the single most pressing issue facing it - its division.

This humiliating bail-out may re-open eyes to actual Irish needs, which bear no relation to the country's prosperity. The need which spawns most others here is for all Irishmen on this island to collaborate, of their own free will.

In fact, a diminished Dáil may hasten the arrival of northern, protestant Irishmen at its gates. So this crisis, whilst necessary to rub the gilding off a paper tiger, may be the cause of 1916's rejection, in favour of a greater year: the year this island's shoreline encompassed a single people.

Shush Money

Mr Myers,

I fear that you are gravely mistaken in identifying only two economies in Ireland: public and private.

There is, of course, a third in the thriving black economy of people doing 'homers' as they are called and if the thousands who evade tax on income and spending were brought into the net a goodly dent would be made each year in that seven billion aid.

Colm

Kevin managed to get to page 2 before he mentioned Ypres and the "Great War". Congratulations Kevin, there is hope for you yet.

Sean

Though laced with his usual spittle-flecked attitude toward people and institutions he finds disagreeable, among the points made by Mr Myers one is difficult to disagree with: The waste of public money in the ROI was appalling enough before its friends in Brussels insisted the nation further burden itself by honouring the gigantic private debts run up by the banks - then generously offered it the means to honour them (at an eye-watering rate of interest). The problem was domestic and perhaps manageable, albeit scorchingly humiliating, until Ireland was instructed to take one for the team.
At least the people of Ireland can take some satisfaction in realizing the Irish tradition of martyrdom for grand causes is back in vogue - and this time it's compulsory.