Sir, - In likening The Snapper to recent episodes of Eastenders shot in Ireland, Ronan Garvey (September 27th) has failed to acknowledge two basic realities.
In simple terms, the former is based on astute observation, the latter on blatant ignorance.
Genuine warmth, humour and realism prevail in Roddy Doyle's story, and it is clear that he knows and understands his characters very well. Eastenders was clicheed and ham-fisted fiction, provoking a reaction which forced the BBC to publicly admit that it had "got it wrong".
In getting it so wrong, it gave real credibility to your TV critic Eddie Holt's observations about British ignorance of Ireland - an ignorance Dubliner Roddy Doyle could hardly be accused of. - Yours, etc.,
Cross Avenue, Dun Laoghaire.