A chara, I had the misfortune to attend a meeting of Aosdana on March 25th. During a private session, the subject of your controversial article (March 23rd) came up and a heated debate followed.
From my point of view, as a member of Aosdana from which I have now resigned Mr Charles Haughey had a dream. This dream set about celebrating the creative people of Ireland and their works, to make it easy for them to concentrate on such works whilst allowing them some necessary money so as not to worry.
What appears to have happened is the ubiquitous bureaucrats in the shape of the Arts Council have taken it over and the dream is lost.
What remains is clearly an elitist exclusive club more anxious to restrict their numbers and preserve their own access to funds whilst paying the piper's tune with your money the taxpayers.
What percentage, I ask, goes on administration and the bureaucrats expenses? Why should the Arts Council be involved at all? Ta bron orm. Rue des Ecouffes, Paris.