STREET NAMES

Sir, - J. P. Duggan is puzzled by the Irish names for Nassau and Westmoreland Streets (letters, December 16th). He need not be.

Just inside the Nassau Street boundary wall of Trinity College is an ancient well which in mediaeval times was known as St Patrick's Well - i.e. Tobar Phadraig. The well gave its name to the adjoining street.

Until the Act of Union, the imposing building at the College Green end of Westmoreland Street was the seat of the Irish House of Commons and the Irish House of Lords hence the Irish name for the street. We usually think of "Feis" as meaning a festival, but it also means a convention, a parliament. - Yours, etc.,

Monkstown,

Co Dublin.