There is a huge change taking place in Ireland which we are all aware of but which we might not have noticed – Ireland is free.

Without a stable roof over your head, human flourishing falls apart.

THE DUP have been getting hammered for quite some time now for not ending their boycott of Stormont.

Trevor Ringland’s narrow view on the troubled history of our partitioned country (August 18) and who was responsible for what is symptomatic of the deeper-lying problems we face as a society.

John Hyland – ‘British Empire brought great benefit to Ireland’ (August 17) – in his eulogy to the British Empire, and the hubris in which he defended the virtues of it, I’m sure raised a few chuckles and frowns across the country.

It is incredible that anyone would defend the history of British imperialism in Ireland as John F Hyland did – ‘British Empire brought great benefit to Ireland’ (August 17).

We should all register our opposition to any attempts to abolish or amend free travel for 60-plus seniors, as outlined in the Department for Infrastructure consultation.

When one reflects on the widespread focus on the understandable concerns around the threat to the security of PSNI officers arising out of the data leaks, one is left wondering why we are not angrier about what seems to be an acceptance of an “acceptable level of threat” to them and their families.

Brexit fantasies are now being superseded by unpalatable Brexit reality and reality bites hard.

It is remarkable that Trevor Ringland has so little sympathy for nationalist perspectives, yet expects us to heed his directives.

I recently attended an Ireland’s Future gathering at St Mary’s College about the road map to a border poll which turned out, to no surprise, to be an evangelical lecture about the virtues of Irish unification. As a ‘persuadable’ I am up for a thoughtful, social, political, and economically progressive-driven road map, but this was not it.

I would like to put on record my appreciation of all your commentators, reporters and contributors who provide us with information on everyday issues affecting the people of Northern Ireland.

There is an untapped potential to move humanity from its narrow national boundaries and self-interests to an enlightened future in which reality and empathy will help prevent the extinction of civilisation from the destructive impact of global warming, war mongering and the exploitation of peoples and limited resources.

Chris Heaton-Harris claims Britain is pushing its Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill “to achieve better outcomes” in legacy cases.

Being born poor anywhere in the world places a child at a huge disadvantage but there are countries where the education system mitigates against the worst effects of poverty. Countries like Canada, Finland, South Korea and Japan, where the education system supports disadvantaged children.

The Greece wildfires are a wake-up call for the world on our climate commitments.

The acrid smoke from the towering infernos and the dust from the marchers’ feet have dissipated and young loyalists have had their annual infusion of sectarian venom.

SINÉAD O’Connor – those eyes, their fiery flame will never die; the voice that came from somewhere deep beyond the sea; that searching soul that swept up strays and lost causes – is no more.