Madam, - Garry Hynes, as quoted in Fintan O'Toole's piece on O'Casey, the Abbey and Druid Theatres (April 3rd), is incorrect in stating that the Gate Theatre received funding from 1928. The Gate did not receive any form of official subvention for a further 41 years, when, following representations from a number of eminent people, CJ Haughey, minister for finance, granted the first annual subsidy of £30,000, mainly in recognition of the work of Hilton Edwards and Mícheál Mac Liammóir, who by this time were nearing the end of their careers.
- Yours, etc,
CHRISTOPHER FITZ-SIMON Monkstown, Co Dublin.