Can’t write, won’t write

I am more convinced than ever that many prominent people in Ireland are only semi-literate. Many of them are well educated, often holding university degrees, but when it comes to writing they are at sea. I have sent such people well written and courteous letters that have met with the response of – no response, not even an acknowledgement. I know they lead busy lives so it would be unreasonable of me to expect an immediate response, but I wait for weeks, and weeks grow into months.

 To put this down to illiteracy is, I know, a kindness. More often than not it is due to base rudeness and lack of courtesy. The person to whom the letters are addressed considers me not worthy of even the most common courtesy. I am a mere nobody. I also believe that this rudeness is also coloured by embarrassment.

 When I receive a letter which needs a response I endeavour to answer it as quickly as possible, and I often cannot rest until I’ve done so, even if t the briefest acknowledgment.

 These people think they are so self important, and that they belong to a class of untouchables, which sadly isn’t too far of the mark. But I don’t think they should avoid being shamed. To this end I am now starting a list of people and organizations I’ve written to, as well as a publication to which I submitted material in the hope of maybe having it published, but who have never replied to me. Most are figures on the national stage, though there is one God-forsaken local nobody who thinks he’s somebody.

 Mary O’Rourke TD

 Sean Connick TD

 The team of RTE’s Morning Ireland program

  Fionnuala Murphy, PRO of the National Council for the Blind

 The editors of Ireland’s Eye magazine

The editors and staff of Ireland’s Own magazine. 

Jack Keys, chief executive of Cavan County Council who certainly is capable of writing. How else could he produce the letter contained in council employees’ pay packets urging them to take early retirement?

The very gifted musician Martin O’Donoghue of Cavan town. That he may not have wished to reply to a brief email I sent him is beside the point, but that he should then divulgeits contents to the semi-literate cornerboys of Cavan is unbelievable. I must really have hit home with my few words. It was through ignorance that the epithet I used was most aposite.  but that’s hardly his fault.

 There are also many more, but I can’t think of them. Such rudeness cannot be coincidental, nor can it be put down to an ambivalence to media such as electronic mail, as I’ve used both snail mail and email.

 My book Cavan: land of earth, water and sky was launched to great acclaim in October 2008. There were some to whom I sent invitations to the launch, who never replied. Naturally I could not expect that people who lived and worked far away could attend, but the world of formal invitations is governed by rules of diplomacy. When you send an invitation you may well be aware that, all things considered, you cannot possibly expect them to attend, but you saying that you consider them worthy of attending. All I can say is that most of these people should never look for a job in the diplomatic service. What’s more they wouldn’t survive long in a society such as Japan, which places much weight on courtesy and deference.

 On this list sit all members of Cavan County Council elected in 2004, with the pleasant exceptions of Cllr Charlie Boylan (who launched the book) and Senator Joe O’Reilly, who even telephoned me from Strassbourg to express his apologies.

 Michael Fitzpatrick TD for Kildare North, but a native of Cootehill

 HE Cardinal Sean Brady. In fairness to him I believe he mustn’t have seen the invitation personally, or he would have contacted me. I don’t honestly believe that he would be intentionally rude to me.