Madam, - It would be salutary if in the autumn government shake-up, the Taoiseach were to appoint a Minister for Sign-posting, which in much of the country is in a parlous state.
I had occasion recently to travel through the picturesque, stone-walled plains of east Galway, only to find myself lost several times. This unhappy state of affairs was aggravated by finding no one at home in some houses, and by the loud barking of large, snarling mastiffs in front of splendid, isolated neo-Georgian mansions, at which I wished to seek directions.
Approaching a T-junction, one signpost told me the last town I had come from - Moylough - while another pointed to Menlough, which was not my destination. I settled for the remaining road, which carried no sign-post whatever, eventually reaching a sign that pointed me simultaneously to both Tuam and Galway.
Now, if I a native, found our sign-posting diabolical, what of foreign visitors to our shore? I imagine that much of the country will remain for them the "Hidden Ireland". - Yours, etc.,
VERA HUGHES, Cartronkeel House, Moate, Co Westmeath.