When Hot Press and 98FM decided to ‘go to the country’ some time ago, it was with a view to ascertaining how young people in Ireland were thinking on a range of the burning issues of the day. The theory was straightforward. Hot Press reaches over 100,000 people in the 16–35 year age group every month and could therefore already provide access to a very significant proportion of the people we wanted to poll. The support of 98FM, who enjoy a very high profile in Dublin, and through the IRN news service nationwide, would ensure the breadth of the response, thus giving us a very telling picture of how Irish young people are thinking as 1994 slides towards 1995 amid political upheaval and turmoil.

The number of responses, at well over 600, exceeded our expectations. It was a daunting task which we had set and we were aware that for everyone who completed it, there would be a further ten who intended to. But the sample is more than large enough to lead us to a very useful set of conclusions about how people view the institutions of this State, and also the role and influence of religion and the Catholic Church in particular. To those who did take the time, trouble and most especially the care to answer thoughtfully and conscientiously, our thanks.

Of those who responded, 15% were under 18 and over 60% were between the ages of 19 and 29. The balance were over 30. Clearly then, this survey gives a very accurate account of how a highly significant segment of the young population is thinking. And for some of the institutions whose activities are put under the microscope, the results will be genuinely shocking. The research was processed, computed and tabulated to the highest industry standards by AGB/ Adelaide Market Research: these are results which must, then, be taken seriously by those in positions of power. For if they are necessarily focussed in being generated through Hot Press, there can be no doubt but that they reflect very accurately the vital trends among young people – and especially among influential young people – in Irish society.

People have become very fond of saying that polls offer a snapshot of how the people are feeling, and in the context of the kind of political turmoil we’ve been undergoing recently that probably makes sense. But this survey, undertaken by Hot Press with the support of 98FM, is much more than any snapshot. We asked people to take time out to answer a range of highly serious, often contentious questions. The process required not just a significant commitment of time but also careful deliberation and a fierce level of openness and honesty. These are not glib or top-of-the-head conclusions come to on a wet Saturday afternoon outside the supermarket laden down with groceries and burdened by a squalling two-year old. They represent a heartfelt response, in such significant numbers that they add up to a nothing less than a groundswell.

This is how very many of the young people of Ireland are thinking. This, you could usefully say, is where we are going.

The question is: who’s going to be along for the ride?

• Niall Stokes

Editor

Turn to page 14 for the detailed results of the survey Hot Press and 98FM Go To The Country.