Sir, – As a genealogist, I spend a lot of time looking at historic census returns. I love the time capsule idea for the upcoming census on Sunday.
Some suggestions, based on what it is very difficult to discover about people in the past.
Names of your friends. Hobbies. Pets. Likes and dislikes.
I’m going to include a note to look me up in The Irish Times digital archive, assuming it still exists! – Yours, etc,
CLAIRE BRADLEY,
Swords,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – The time capsule component of Census 2022 is to be welcomed and doubtless there will be many interesting and positive contributions made for later discovery when released in 2122. However, with no guidelines as to unacceptable content for contributions, will abusive, racist or foul language descriptions of our present state be available for reading by posterity? According to the CSO, the form may only be completed in English or Irish but this limitation relates only to language of choice and not choice language. – Yours, etc,
ALAN COUNIHAN,
Johnswell,
Co Kilkenny.
Sir, – The excitement about the time capsule included in the census form is understandable. However, trying to predict what life will be like in 100 years needs to be approached with tongue firmly in cheek. It has been said that planners in London in 1875 were sufficiently alarmed at the massive increase in horse-drawn traffic in the capital that they predicted with confidence that citizens would be knee-high in manure by the year 1925. – Yours, etc,
PATRICK JUDGE,
Dún Laoghaire,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – Write down who you are. You can only be more of who you are. – Is mise,
DERMOT O’ROURKE,
Lucan,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – “Has the Sam Maguire arrived in Mayo yet?” – Yours, etc,
HELEN NOONAN,
Dublin 6.