Sir, – The "Census of the Heart" is not a census as it is not a complete enumeration of a population; nor does it appear to be a stratified random sample designed to represent a population (Magazine, August 20th).
It merely represents the feelings and attitudes of a group of respondents, almost half of whom were from Dublin (and only 1 per cent from Antrim); 73 per cent of the total group were, apparently, female; and most of the respondents were aged between 31 and 40.
The data presented merely describe the views and attitudes expressed by a sub-group of people who chose to respond to an online survey.
Interesting? Yes, very. But representative of the views and attitudes of the current population of Ireland? No. And probably not representative of the “happiness” of the population of Antrim either. – Yours, etc,
JUNE HOAD,
Kenmare,
Co Kerry.