Sir, - Those of us who delight in Irish, which is still spoken at its best in the most Northern part of Ireland, should give every support to the preservation and revival of the Ulster-Scots language, as a precious and important part of our shared inheritance. I am in complete agreement with your correspondent Nelson McCausland (September 30th) that to champion one should not mean to be against the other.
May I say to Mr McCausland, and to his colleagues on the Ulster-Scots Heritage Council, what my late father, and his dear old friends Rufus Carson, Billy McCloskey and Johnny McIlhagga would surely have: lang may yer lum reek! it is one of the few phrases that I can remember, but I do mind, that though none of them spoke the Gaidhlic, they encouraged us to learn it, and they always said "slainte 'gus saol agat" before taking their first dram of Bushmills.
I sincerely hope that the Ulster Scots language will live and develop. It can only do so, I believe, if, unlike Irish, its development can be left to creative writers, and escape the attentions of academic and beaurocratic kenbetthers, such as the author of the piece of pretentious twaddle published in your issue of your paper under the heading of "Writing the Wrongs". - Is mise, Gearailt Mac Eoin,
Clos Bhaile Ui Ogain, Carraig Mhaighin, Baile Atha Cliath 18.