Malá Poist

Tom Smith Band in Limerick

A Chairde

I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the work of Pádraig Malone and other members of Limerick Sinn Féin. I was a member of the Tom Smith Band that Pádraig mentioned in his letter last week that participated in the Limerick band competition in 1990.

The truth is when we participated in the competition we had to disguise our name so as not to alert the organisers of our choice of music. At that time republican bands were not allowed play due to censorship and on the morning of the competition the Special Branch found out about our presence and tried to arrest some of our members to prevent our participation. It was people like Pádraig and other members of Limerick Sinn Féin who made sure we got to play that day and as Pádraig said, we won the competition.

What made the whole event worthwhile was the look on the faces of the reviewing stand, which included Dessie O'Malley, as we marched past playing Say hello to the Provos. The fact that loyalist bands, almost 15 years later, are copying us is no surprise.

Finally, I would like to thank Pádraig and all the others who looked after us on the numerous occasions we were looked after in Limerick.

Emmet Steenson,

Drogheda Sinn Féin.

Loyalists in Limerick

A Chairde

In response to Pádraig Malone, Cathaoirleach, Sinn Féin Luimneach, in last week's An Phoblacht, I apologise if my original letter could be construed as a criticism of Sinn Féin Luimneach. It was certainly not intended in that fashion. I am aware that Sinn Féin has very dedicated and hard working members throughout the county and has to endure enough sly digs from a hostile local press.

My letter was intended to highlight an issue that didn't seem to be given much oxygen in the press and I wanted to highlight the issue to republicans as I believed it to be a serious one. I sent e-mails to [email protected] and [email protected] to register my annoyance at the presence of a loyalist band in their competition but as of yet have, unsurprisingly, not received a reply.

John Canty,

Lough Road, Cork.

Another Tribunal

A Chairde

I felt compelled to write this letter to express my utter disgust and horror at yet more allegations that our ruling class, some of whom are sitting in government, may be involved in boorish behaviour, threats, and corruption.

The Tribunals, and subsequent allegations, are now such a common occurrence that we are in danger of becoming indifferent to them. Public representatives, when accused, just need to stand up in the Dáil and read a well-rehearsed speech, or offer by way of explanation that much-used phrase "I have no recollection". Is this deemed accountability? What arrogance. What utter contempt for the intelligence of the people of Ireland.

During the '80s and '90s, I worked in a large industrial outfit in Tralee. We worked 12-hour shifts in the most appalling conditions by today's standards. Our employers paid us a reasonable wage due to the diligence of our union. However, the sickening thing is that at this time a large percentage of the workforce were paying 40% tax on their wages — 40% from ordinary working-class people.

While the tax system was very unfair, we accepted it because we had been told to "tighten our belts" for the greater good, by none other than, Mr Charles J Haughey. We actually believed that by paying the enormous taxes we were laying the foundation for a better life for the next generation. In retrospect, we showed mind-boggling naïvety.

What we did not know was that our hard earned money was used to prop up the pariahs who were bleeding this country dry. We had voted into power people who were passing laws to accommodate the greed of the rich, while squeezing the poor. These laws assisted these people to avoid paying any tax whatsoever, never mind the 40% being paid by some at the bottom end of the PAYE sector. Members of our government were downright corrupt, crooked and utter hypocrites.

It is absolutely appalling that these same people still walk the corridors of power, or in some cases, the next generation of them. They continue to accommodate their friends and peers with tax breaks, etc, while barely concealing their contempt for the electorate.

When will the Irish people learn? When will we realise that by yet again voting for these people, generation after generation of them, that things will never change. Corruption and hypocrisy will simply continue, thinly disguised with a new gloss, called "spin".

I sincerely hope that the younger people will see through the spin and refuse to accept the obvious arrogance and the contempt in which the present government holds the public. We have to learn from the mistakes that the older generation made. These people need to be taught a lesson. Let the local and European elections be the first lesson.

Geraldine Nolan,

Tralee, County Kerry.