Madam, - It was with a mixture of sadness and no little anger that I read your coverage of the acceptance speech of the newly inaugurated Lord Mayor of Kerry, the Sinn Féin councillor Toireasa Ferris.
Surely the councillor missed the opportunity on behalf of the people of Kerry to accept the privilege bestowed upon her in a graceful and forward-looking manner.
While I am reluctant to criticise a young person at the outset of her political career it is a matter of some importance that she be challenged on her apparent belief that she is entitled as mayor of Kerry to denigrate the institutions of the State.
Your report quotes the new mayor as stating "I'm first and foremost comhairlach of this county, captain of your team".
If she is what she states herself to be she should surely immediately concentrate and focus her undoubted abilities on behalf of all the people of Kerry including the very many who stand by and have stood by the institutions of this State.
I wish the councillor well in her year of office. - Yours, etc,
TONY TAAFFE,
Finglas,
Dublin 11.
Madam, - It was with raised eyebrow that I read the acceptance speech of Kerry's new mayor, Ms Toireasa Ferris, in which she spoke of the "tremendous hardships" endured by her family at the hands of the State.
Somehow, I fancy being pulled out of your beds at 5am by the Special Branch would be a walk in the park compared with what some other, unrelated families might have had to endure had the cargo of the Marita Ann been put to its intended use. - Yours, etc,
FINIAN COGHLAN,
Beechlawns,
Mullingar,
Co Westmeath.