Subscriber OnlyLetters

Eponymous adjectives

It’s a Shaw thing

Letters to the Editor. Illustration: Paul Scott
The Irish Times - Letters to the Editor.
Fri Aug 30 2024 - 00:03

Sir, – Frank McNally’s exploration of the periodic table of the elements and its relation to Irish names (An Irishman’s Diary, August 29th) prompted me to dig through my old schoolbooks. Might I suggest that Francium, atomic number 87, known for its rarity and highly reactive nature, is somewhat reminiscent of Frank himself? – Yours, etc,

ENDA CULLEN,

Armagh.

Sir, – In the olden days in west Wicklow, a fan of the great George Bernard Shaw would be known as a Shawite, but one would have to be careful how one pronounced it. – Yours, etc,

READ MORE

MATTIE LENNON,

Blessington,

Co Wicklow.