Sir, - Since the demise, some 40 years ago, of the Petrie-Gaelic typeface, the inclusion of the fada in Irish-language words has tended to be a hit-or-miss affair. Direction signs on Irish roads are particularly conspicuous for fada-related inaccuracies. I am encouraged to note that others, such as Cathal Browne (June 1st), and Vera Hughes (June 9th), share my concern.
In this regard, however, Deaglan de Breacadan fares better than his interviewee, Czech president Vaclav Havel, (The Irish Times, May 28th), whose name is typically divested of its Czech vowel sustaining mark, while the name of the interviewer conforms to the best by way of fada inclusion - Yours, etc.,
Karel Bacik, Meadowgrove, Blackrock, Cork.