I’m sceptical of spinal surgeon’s optimism
● Sir — I was aghast reading the article on spinal surgeries by Maeve Sheehan in which she interviewed orthopaedic surgeon David Moore.
“Once you’ve made a decision that surgery is necessary, there is no advantage in putting it off or delaying it,” he said.
My daughter was told surgery was the only option left as she had no follow-up due to appointment cancellations between 2020 and August
2023. We were advised to speak with patient advocacy.
Surgery within six months, the consultant said.
Surgery within four months, Stephen Donnelly pipes in.
“Absolutely no clinical relevance whatsoever,” responds David Moore in last week’s article.
Am I supposed to believe he has an even more optimistic outlook?
We progressed from August 2023. Finally the golden ticket arrived. Surgery was scheduled for April. But it was cancelled two days later.
A follow-up advised not to worry, it should be May. That was bit optimistic.
June and July? Well, they are the summer holidays. Fair enough, everybody needs a break but does the whole show have to close up?
Must ask patient advocacy that one...
August was mentioned, so we got on with it. Then September. Dangling the carrot — at least it’s only increments of months.
Next up: autumn. Now we’re dealing in seasons.
And today’s forecast? This side of Christmas
So, 12 months on there’s not much progress in getting over the delays David Moore talked about. God loves a trier but I ain’t fooled.
Name and address with editor
I emigrated and I have no regrets
● Sir — This is the time of year when exam results come and one’s future is often decided.
In 1962, I did the Leaving in “The Sem” in Killarney. There were 38 in our class and for many the results were not important — emigration was the order of the time.
Unless one came from money and could afford it, going to university was out of bounds. For me it was the US.
When we had our 50th reunion it was great to meet and chat with many of my classmates but I came away with one happy conclusion: I’m glad I emigrated.
I worked as a shuttering carpenter 50 floors up in Chicago; I was drafted into the army and saw many interesting places.
I took US citizenship and joined the San Francisco police department — a job I loved.
Many of my classmates had opted for civil service jobs, or any place that hired them; boring but at least a job.
The poet Robert Frost wrote about “taking the road less travelled”. If today was 1962 I would still take the same road. Mike Kelleher,
Tramore, Co Waterford
Rose of Tralee and its yearly detractors
● Sir — Eilis O’Hanlon is bored out of her mind by the Rose of Tralee coverage which she labels rubbish, not once but twice (‘It may not be doing any harm, but by god the Rose of Tralee is boring’, August 25).
The oft-quoted Oscar Wilde comment comes to mind: “There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about” from The Picture of Dorian Gray in 1890.
With the help of God, we’ll all be around next year to witness the Roses and those who simply can’t stand it filling up our inboxes.
Tom McElligott, Listowel, Co Kerry
Important to recall vibrancy of the past
● Sir — Your columnist David Quinn has come in for some flak for daring to suggest that there was a different Ireland to the one portrayed by the many “misery” memoirs so popular in recent years.
However, Mr Quinn is correct. I could cite personal evidence of growing up in a relatively small town with two cinemas, numerous dance venues, drama societies and sports clubs. But that’s just anecdotal.
The writer Brian Fallon in his work Age of Innocence: Ireland 1930-1960 describes how culturally vibrant Ireland was in those years. We had proportionately more literary magazines than the UK, a vibrant theatre scene with the Abbey, Gate, Gaiety and the largest entertainment theatre in Europe, The Royal.
Noel Coward was a frequent visitor to Dublin in the 1950s to view performances of his plays.
Undoubtedly some people had bad experiences and that’s to be deplored. But, while not downplaying the negatives, many of us have more positive memories.
Eric Conway, Navan, Co Meath
Oasis reunion stirs no excitement in me
● Sir — Am I the only person who feels nothing at the thought of an Oasis reunion?
They have always struck me as a Beatles tribute act at best.
Susan Bevan, Dublin 8