On yesterday’s show, Ryan Tubridy shared a little piece of his childhood, reading out a letter he had written to his father from the Connemara Gaeltacht as a 14-year-old. Inspired by the slice of nostalgia, listeners had a root around for some letters of their own. Jean Burke wrote to the show saying she had found a particularly “world-weary” missive from her 13-year-old son Robert, written in 1996.
While Ryan was witnessing vandalism and buying curry chips, Jean’s son Robert was less than impressed with the experience. His letter home read:
Hello Mum and Dad,
This place is weird and it’s so annoying having to speak Gaeilge all the time. The chicks are a disappointment so far and I don’t know what to do. We have a Cinnire in our room and it’s a pain being corrected all of the day. We had a Céilí today and it sucked. I hope you’re having a better time than me.
Slán,
Robert
Teresa’s son wrote home in 1999. He told her he had committed to a Higher level Irish class in the name of love.
To Ma and Da,
There’s no phone here. So, don’t expect a phone call…My tonsils are sore and I’m out of stuff. I found myself in an honours class with 3rd and 2nd Year because I followed a sexy girl…The Bean an Tí is a bit weird and is old and looks evil, although she could not look as mean as the husband and the dog. We are the only Dubs but we don’t seem tough to the others, as I fell in front of everyone…I’m having some soup and shepherd’s pie for lunch. I miss youse and I am not the best but I’ll survive. Please don’t worry.
Love,
A
“You’d swear he was in the Somme”, Ryan quipped.
Listen back to the whole segment on The Ryan Tubridy Show here.
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