Ireland is now “a cold place for Catholics,” Newstalk Breakfast presenter Shane Coleman has said.
He was speaking after Irish Times columnist Finn McRedmond wrote that Ireland is only "superficially" tolerant and makes a great a show of "demonstrating tolerance for ideas we are already convinced about".
On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, one listener said she felt she “almost has to apologise for going to Mass to some parents who are in my child’s school”.
Shane agreed that the country lacks diversity in one crucial aspect.
“We’re not quite so tolerant of different opinions in this country,” he said.
“I think Ireland has become a cold place for Catholics - for genuine people who believe and go to Mass. I think they’re looked down on as if they’re some kind of weirdos.
“Which, quite clearly, they are not, just to stress.”
A priest celebrates a mass. Picture by: robertharding / Alamy Stock PhotoAnother texter said they felt their text message on the War in Ukraine had been ignored because of the views expressed.
“Obviously - and I’m not accusing this listener of this - we’re not going to read out something that is filled with hatred, but we absolutely welcome and encourage different views - even if they do challenge the status quo,” Shane said.
“We’ll have a chat among ourselves and make sure that is not the case.
“We don’t censor here on Newstalk Breakfast. We certainly don’t.”
Ukrainian soldiers inspect the wreckage of a destroyed Russian armored column on a road in Bucha. (Credit Image: © Matthew Hatcher/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire)One listener said the lack of working-class Dubliners is a huge issue.
“I would also add that we don’t see a lot of postcode diversity in the media,” the texter wrote.
“It is more important and a bigger problem than racial diversity or diversity of sexual orientation given the social makeup of our population.
“Barely a genuine working class Dublin accent in the media - unless it is being used for comedic value.
“Plenty of country and South County Dublin accents though.”
