Madam, - David Herman (October 8th) wonders if Mr Eamon Ó Cuiv and other "zealots for the language" look forward to the day when signs and documents will carry a version in Irish. Presumably they do, but why does this represent a problem for Mr Hermon? Should our own language not be promoted at every opportunity just because a minority of the population speaks it?
Perhaps Mr Herman might enlighten us as what it is that makes one Irish. I know of no other country in the world where people can castigate their own language, bin their national anthem and dismiss their national identity with such gay abandon!
Mr Ó Cuiv deserves support in his efforts. He might commence his work by renaming our capital city as Dubhlinn (Dublin being a corruption of Dubhlinn meaning the "Black Pool") and end the continuing absurdity of Baile Átha Cliath (meaning the Town of the Hurdle Ford) being represented as a translation of Dublin. In this instance I agree with Mr Herman: appearance can indeed be more important than reality! - Yours, etc.,
JAMES CONNOLLY HERON, Oxford Road, Ranelagh, Dublin 6.
Madam, - While Mr Ó Cuív is sorting out Irish placename corruption, he might also consider the introduction of the letter "v" to the lexicon of our first official language. - Yours, etc.,
MICHAEL KEEGAN, South Avenue, Mount Merrion, Co Dublin.