Sir, - Arriving back in Dublin after a few days away in London, I had occasion to entertain a highly distinguished academic colleague at a restaurant in fashionable Temple Bar. We were courteously offered smoking or non smoking, and took the latter option.
Preparing to be seated at our non smoking table, I noticed that the people at the next table in the area were puffing away and asked the waitress if she had heard me correctly. She had, but was not prepared to "go to war over the matter - it wasn't her restaurant, after all". Nothing was done about the miscreant smokers, I need hardly add: World War III was averted.
If nothing else, at least I now had confirmation that I was indeed back in Dublin. Where else would one encounter such perverse liberalism and contempt for the welfare of others? Yours, etc,
Head of Department,
School of Music, TCD.