Madam, - It was great to see the brilliant Irish performance against the rugby world champions last Saturday. It is clear that, on their day, the Irish team have the ability to beat the best in the world. What a fabulous lift this success gives all four provinces of our country.
Ireland's Call has rightly become the anthem of Ireland's rugby nation, appealing to all sections of the community. There are many of us who would like the opportunity to sing it in Irish, as we do our National Anthem. It would be appropriate to have an Irish version as well as the English one on programmes in future and I bet many of the sceptics will then be won over to Ireland's Call or "Glaoch na hÉireann". - Yours, etc.,
WILLIAM GALVIN, Carrick-on-Suir, Co Tipperary.
Madam, - The phrase "bloodied but unbowed" sums up the tremendous exhibition put up by the Irish rugby team against Australia. They truly indicated in a most telling fashion their pride in donning an Irish jersey.
What a difference from the bowed but unbloody performance of the soccer team against Switzerland recently. Is there any chance of Mr Kerr and his collection of spoiled, overpaid, under-achieving wasters being taken to one side by one of the rugby team or its mentors and given a lesson in basic respect for the country and fans who have suffered their lazy, couldn't-care-less approach for too long? Maybe the manager should try ditching all of these "players" and picking a team from the League of Ireland. At least those players would fight for their side. I would rather see them being beaten off the field after giving their all than see the present lot giving up without the least semblance of effort. - Yours, etc.,
JACK KELLY, Woodley Road, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.