Sir, - In your edition of January 7th, Brendan McWilliams recalls how, even in the 20th century, it was common for people to establish their age for the purpose of qualifying for an old-age pension by reference to the fact that they were born before the Night of the Big Wind - January 7th, 1839. In the same edition, Prof Brian Arkins argues that "whatever else the year 2000 commemorates, it cannot be the birth of Christ". I always thought that AD meant "Year of our Lord". Does an error of a few days make so much difference? Perhaps those who drew up the calendar were not as knowledgeable as today's scientists. However, I'm convinced their intention was to count the years from the birth of Christ. If this is not so, would Prof Arkins speculate about what else they may have intended to commemorate ? - Yours, etc.,
John Sharkey,
Rathfarnham, Dublin 14.
