"Outrageous," Ivana? Whatâs outrageous is that the greatest demographic and economic transformation in our nationâs history has been imposed without debate, without a vote, without end. Whatâs outrageous is that any Irish person who questions it is smeared, silenced, branded a threat.
You speak of the âpositive diversity of modern Irelandâ as if diversity is an unquestionable good, as if Irish people are not entitled to an opinion on whether this transformation benefits them or not. You do not engage with McGregorâs argument, you do not refute itâyou dismiss it, declare it beyond discussion, as you and your peers have done for years.
You say McGregor does not ârepresentâ Ireland. Fine. But who, then, speaks for the growing number of Irish people who see their communities transformed overnight? Who speaks for those priced out of housing, stuck on waiting lists, watching their country change beyond recognition while being told they must celebrate it? You donât speak for them. The Irish media doesnât speak for them. The entire political establishment doesnât speak for them.
So yes, it shouldnât be McGregor leading this conversation. But the fact that it isâthat no politician, no journalist, no respectable figure has dared to say what he saidâtells you everything about modern Ireland. And that, Ivana, is whatâs truly mortifying.
McGregorâs comments about immigration are outrageous and do not reflect the positive diversity of modern Ireland.
It is mortifying to see him purport to represent Ireland in the US.