Madam, – Orla Tinsley asserts that the Celtic Tiger has spawned “A generation obsessed with money, fake tan, Mini Coopers and an American way of life” (Opinion, January 25th). It was a product of the times. However, I would ask her to speak for herself regarding this generation’s interest in politics (“Unless a teenager or young adult was from a political family or studying politics, the workings of the country would mostly have flown under the radar over the last decade or so”).
I have been in engaged in political activism over the past decade (I am now 25). I am not from a political family nor have I studied politics. Along with dozens of contemporaries, I have been an active member of the Labour Party since I was 16 (I even completed part of my Transition Year work experience in Labour Head Office with Cllr Dermot Lacey). The Labour Party is aware of the disconnect between politics and young people and is campaigning to reduce the minimum age for voting in local elections to 16. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – With regard to Orla Tinsley’s article (January 25th) I’m hopeful this young Republic for all its trying and failing, will fail better. – Yours, etc,