Sir, – It is easy these days to look out at the world and to feel despondent.

Indeed when one looks at the major issues of our world, including the Middle East, Ukraine, climate change, far right politics, misinformation, etc, it is easy to understand why people feel despondent.

It is all the more important therefore that we here in Ireland recognise the wonderful country we live in and that we are grateful for our good fortune in living here.

Ireland is far from perfect, and a teacher’s report would probably say “could do better”, but we must look at the positives and not always the negatives. Ireland is a peaceful democracy.

We have the right to vote and to express our opinions. In the political arena we have not experienced the shift to the right and the ultra nationalist politics of the far right.

Our Opposition parties are, by and large, constructive with none suggesting radical or extreme shifts, to the right or left.

We are at peace and we need to stay at peace. There are no missiles or drones flying over our heads and our cities are not being bombarded.

Our climate is moderate with no major floods or cyclones or extremes of temperature, and we need to do our bit on the world stage to keep our climate, and the global climate, as it is.

We have a health service which, while under pressure and deficient in many ways, is still far ahead of the global average, and we have a social welfare system which does its best to support those who need it and those most in need.

We have an educated and computer literate workforce and we are seen as a good place to invest in, and as a nation we are prosperous and we need to use that prosperity well both for ourselves and those less fortunate around the world.

We produce sporting greats including Katie Taylor, Rachel Blackmore and Rory McIlroy and we celebrate them. We are the home of Guinness, U2, River Dance and Father Ted and we have a sense of humour second to none.

I am sure there are many other reasons why we should be grateful, so let’s reflect on them and be sure