Letters: Kindness of strangers in Dublin shows the true spirit of our capital city

What is not recorded are the incidents of kindness and goodness that also occur.

Ten days ago, my husband and I were in Dublin, strolling around St Stephen’s Green and Grafton Street in the sunshine, something we had not done in years.

We were making our way to Grog­an’s pub to meet our son and some friends when I had the misfortune to go over on my ankle and fell to the ground.

As my husband was helping me to my feet, he was assisted by a lady who was passing by. A gentleman gathered up my bags and left them beside me. A lady who was working in the Dublin Pride Hub rushed over with a chair for me. Her colleague brought another chair for me to put my foot on to rest. She then returned with a bag of ice and a bandage to strap up my ankle, which had started to swell up.

Two ladies who were passing by and had seen the incident offered to give me paracetamol. The lady who worked in the hairdresser’s nearby came out with a glass of water.

Two staff members from the Westbury Hotel asked if there was anything they could do, and another passer-by stopped for a chat, joking that I definitely wouldn’t be doing the mini-marathon the next day.

Despite my sprained ankle and our day in the city being cut short, I left that day with an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the kindness and concern that was shown to me.

It’s reassuring to know that most people are good and our capital city is still great.

Joanne McLaughlin, Letterkenny, Co Donegal

Elections show changing Ireland, but results point to dangers of extremism

The incoming Galway City Council will have six women members – four of them newly elected, the highest proportion in the history of the authority.

Each political party on the council now has a female councillor, as does the non-party grouping.

Our council – representing a city where 28pc of the population was born outside Ireland and 21pc do not identify as white – for the first time has a black councillor.

These are historic developments, and hopefully just a step towards the normalisation of having a diverse council that reflects the diversity of our city.

I am reminded of doing the eve-of-poll leaflet drop for Mary Robinson in 1990.

One man ran down the street to shove the leaflet back into my hand. A woman, he told me, should not – could not – be President of Ireland.

There is a lot to celebrate in how much more diverse, progressive and welcoming our city and country have become over the past few decades.

However, both locally and more widely there are reasons for concern.

A long history in Galway of arson and protest against Traveller accommodation has recently been matched by arson attacks (here and nationally) on housing for refugees and migrants.

Public representatives who excuse, justify and cheer on this violence too often see success at the ballot box.

In the European elections, people I would liken to neo-Nazis received tens of thousands of votes, while a broader swathe of xenophobes, bigots and “just asking questions” dog-whistlers received more than 350,000 first preferences nationally – around one vote in five.

This can be a frightening time to be a visible minority in Ireland.

It is vital that the dangers of this rise in hate, suspicion and punching down be taken seriously by all with the power to enact positive change.

Dr Andrew Ó Baoill, Rahoon, Co Galway

Ryan should beware his coalition partners in case they ditch the Greens

Hats off to the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael grandees.

Four years after the celebrations of various centenaries almost scupp­ered the former Civil War protagonists, they have regained their position as twin representatives of the Gael.

The figures for the coming general election combined could see FF and FG as twin pillars needing around 10 seats from a “mudguard” party to endure five more years at the top table.

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan is feeling the heat from perceived coalition slights. The big two need 10 third-party seats, not the Green Party.

The Greens have ensured the big two’s success, but that big two are now casting their eyes beyond the Green vote.

With a huge cabal of potential ex-FF and FG TDs awaiting anointing at the next election, Mr Ryan’s shade of green won’t be needed.

However, he could bring a fresh election quicker if he no longer feels the love.

John Cuffe, Co Meath

Death of regular writer has left void in the letters page and we’ll miss him

I note the recent death of a regular contributor to the letters page over many years. I refer to Anthony Leavy, of Sutton, Dublin 13. Rest in peace.

Tom Gilsenan, Beaumont, Dublin 9

Water safety should be as important as measures to prevent road accidents

I am writing to highlight the urgent need for increased prioritisation of water safety in Ireland.

Every year, numerous lives are lost or permanently affected by prevent­able water-related accidents, particularly over summer.

Drowning tragedies leave an average of 10 families and communities in grief every month. It is a year-round killer, taking an average of 118 lives annually.

Of the 1,300 road and water deaths that happened over five years, 45pc were drownings. Males accounted for 70pc. Half were people aged 40 to 64.

Contrary to popular belief, less than a quarter were preceded by swimming (23pc), although with the rise in sea-swimming it is crucial that people address the dangers associated with swimming in nature.

More than half of accidental drownings (57pc) were preceded by land-based activities such as walking and angling from shore. People often drown due to unexpected falls or when overestimating their ability and underestimating the risk. Alcohol is a factor in a third of drownings.

People need to have a water-safety conversation with loved-ones that emphasises the importance of learning swimming and life-saving skills, of wearing personal flotation devices and of supervising children closely.

We need a cultural shift in attitudes towards water safety, similar to the changes seen with road safety.

Roger Sweeney, Water Safety Ireland