Letters: Ahead of the solstice this Friday, we should all savour these long summer days

Although the sun begins to slowly favour the southern hemisphere, nature is at its most active during the next three months. The trees are in full foliage, plants and shrubs are blooming, hay and silage is being saved and the coastline and landscape are spectacular.

It’s summertime and the living’s easy. It’s the season for outdoor activity, a time to enjoy delicious 99s and ice-cold drinks.

The effects of global warming on Ireland’s summer are more apparent each summer.

Although the sea temperature at 13.5C is slightly below the record 15C measured on last year’s summer solstice, the sea around our coast will warm quickly under the hot sun and likely surpass 20C by August.

Smacks of jellyfish – harbingers of warm water – are already basking off the Wild Atlantic Way. The summer season is lasting longer and higher temperatures are becoming the norm, though not nearly as hot as the debilitating Mediterranean heatwaves.

The good weather should keep our green and pleasant land in all its glory well into September. But make the most of it before we head towards the autumn equinox in September when day and night are of equal length.

Billy Ryle, Tralee, Co Kerry

Instead of blaming Sinn Féin, take a closer look at Fianna Fáil’s failings

I would like to respond to Robert Sullivan’s letter on how the electorate has “woken up to Sinn Féin”, and how the Irish people cannot be fooled all the time (Letters, June 17).

While I take his point to some extent, there is one flaw in his argument. One only has to look at the party that is sharing power in the current Coalition. It seems a lot of Irish people forget the damage Fianna Fáil did in 2008 to this country.

I, for one, haven’t forgotten.

Tom Mitchell, Loughrea, Co Galway

Recognising Palestine is one thing: now, Ireland must go a step further

The women, children and men of Gaza are pawns in Israel’s political power game. It seems the Israeli military has a smidgen of compassion, as it wanted tactical “pauses” in order to allow in badly needed aid to the Palestinian victims.

However, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has bristled at this. The death toll in Palestine since the October 7 attacks now stands at around 37,000. Just because we recognised Palestine as a state, we must not think our duty is done. We must expel the Israeli ambassador and stop US military planes using Shannon. Recognition was easy. It’s what we do next that matters.

John Cuffe, Co Meath

Player management is a big issue that seems to be affecting our rugby teams

Rugby is a highly attritional, intensely physical sport, but I am beginning to wonder are we mollycoddling our top players to their disadvantage?

Leinster did not lose their URC semi-final to the Bulls because of one poor display; they lost weeks ago when all their top players were left at home while the second/third-choice players were hammered (twice) in South Africa. One win on that disastrous venture would have secured top spot and home advantage. Was this poor man/team management?

Likewise with Munster: what genius thought it was a good idea to send out a team for a semi-final, at home, with RG Snyman and Gavin Coombes on the bench ?

Because of our small cohort of truly great players, we should be delighted at our success in producing them, but we can’t afford to keep so many of them under wraps, quite so often. ​

David Ryan, Co Meath

Parachute payment for MEPs who lose seat would at least be a soft landing

As a consolation for any MEP who loses his or her seat, I suggest a “parachute” severance package worth several thousand euro. This should ensure a somewhat soft landing and perhaps make the recipients members of the smiles-high club?

Tom Gilsenan, Beaumont, Dublin 9

Mullane’s comments on state of Leinster hurling show a lack of knowledge

I want to express my disgust at John Mullane’s comments that Laois and Offaly should not be competing in the All-Ireland Hurling Championship (‘McDonagh finalists are like lambs to slaughter: this system needs to end’ – Irish Independent, June 15).

Mullane, who belittled Leinster hurling in general, obviously does not know about the amount of work going on to promote hurling, in Offaly in particular but also in Laois, Carlow, Westmeath, Dublin and Kildare.

This is before I mention the great work done in the hurling stronghold of Wexford, and by the kingpins and aristocrats of hurling, Kilkenny. Limerick are top dogs at present, and I wish them well in their “drive for five”.

But if, as Mullane suggests, our competitions are all about winning, how does he propose to promote interest in our native games in the future?

Tom Dunne, Mountmellick, Co Laois

Plenty of money within the GAA but those on the ground are not benefiting

The decision-making process by those in GAA HQ seems somewhat detached from the realities on the ground for supporters and volunteers alike in a cost-of-living crisis.

I’m speaking about things such as the increase to €100 for a stand ticket, while hiding important games behind paywalls, and a condensed championship, where failure is rewarded. After listening to the GAA president Jarlath Burns on Morning Ireland last week speaking about the amount of money the association distributes to clubs around the country, I’d like to remind him that it is the volunteers – the grassroots and supporters – who are the pillars that make the GAA tick along with its many dedicated players.

Listening to the distribution of funding, I was amazed at some of the figures that were bandied about: €7m distributed to 350 coaches, increasing to €12m; €5m in funding for country grounds; and €3m in grants to clubs, increasing to €5m, are remarkable figures.

Even more so when we consider that during the pandemic, the State, i.e. the taxpayers of this country, gave the GAA €30.7m.

Christy Galligan, Letterkenny, Co Donegal