MURDER in SUNSHINE in TULLAMORE

It woke me up, and I presume many like me, when I heard how females feel, as they spoke, in countless numbers for the first time in my memory, relating what has periodically happened to all of them, as they try to go about their business.

It was recounted, again and again, how women feel when out anywhere in Ireland. It made for very uneasy listening, as in silence we tried to absorb every thing that was being said.

I was the one who was shocked, the boss shrugged and startled me by saying that it was happening every single day, in every place, without anything being done. That made me feel utterly ashamed.

What’s the problem? Men are the problem. Young men, older men, all the way through the age range.

In fact it’s increasingly something that’s happening with male teenagers, and there’s no getting away from that simple fact. 

If enough of us men begin to realise how terrified women are, all the time, we might manage to do something about it. It is incumbent on men to start a new habit, by shutting down the converse, or being brave enough to intervene, whenever they hear, or see it happening around them.

That would be a tiny thing to do, yet it might take hold and reach the stage that the grouping of smutty jokers, are left alone to feel chastised and maybe realise that this is no way to carry on. A lone person, among five or six others, suddenly feels isolated if people in the company loudly offer a contrary view. Maybe telling the person to shut up, would be a great act.

It will take time for such a thing to become habitual, that one person has to persevere while others still persist with loose and awful sleazy language, and think it’s funny. No. It’s not funny. It’s an abuse of women.

All of us must quickly realise that women are indeed terrified, and rightly so, when they venture out at any time, anywhere, near or far, at any hour in the day.

Isn’t that an incredible thing to say, about dear old Ireland?

It’s not something to boast about.