LETTERKENNY man Kevin O’Sullivan of Ballyraine Park felt moved to write to the Irish Times this week to comment on Donegal’s ‘No’ vote in last weekend’s referendum.
Mr O’Sullivan’s letter, follows on an article by Irish Times reporter Mary Minihan who sought to analyse why Donegal has been returning No votes in recent referenda.
“The situation in Donegal, brought about by years of neglect, contains a warning for the political establishment about disillusioned communities across the State.
“Branding those who vote No in Donegal, Dublin, Cork or elsewhere as refuseniks and hoping that middle class elites in urban areas can carry the day in future referendums would be a mistake. Moreover, distrust in political figures of all stripes is on the rise.
“Scoffing and choosing to remain in ignorance about what is influencing their [Donegal voters] voting patterns would be unwise,” Ms Minihan wrote.
Mr O’Sullivan said the journalists column “neatly encapsulates the background to recent referendum votes in Donegal.
“However, were the government to offer referenda on the abolition of the Seanad, substantial reductions in the numbers and perks of TDs and a slashing of the salaries of directors and senior managers of State-owned banks, I have no doubt that Donegal would echo the immortal words of Meg Ryan: “Yes, Yes, Yes” [from the movie ‘When Harry met Sally’.]