Sir, - I wish to refer to Martin Corless's letter (October 21st) regarding the reference to a "fulsome tribute" in Paddy Agnew's report from Rome concerning Vatican Radio and the retirement of Cardinal Daly. Mr Corless states that his Concise Oxford Dictionary "defines the word fulsome as having the exclusive meanings `cloying, excessive, disgusting by excess (of flattery, servility, exaggerated affection)'."
So does mine. However, the altogether larger and more comprehensive Oxford English Dictionary defines "fulsome" firstly as meaning "characterised by abundance, possessing or affording copious supply; abundant, plentiful, full". A definition of "abundant" in the same work is "existing in great plenty; plentiful, ample". In a Bible of 1611 it is written (First Epistle of St Paul to Timothy, I, xiv): "And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant, with faith and love" (etc.).
I prefer to think that in describing Vatican Radio as having marked the retirement of Cardinal Daly with a "fulsome tribute", Mr Agnew was in fact referring to something altogether more positive and appropriate to the person and the occasion than might appear to be suggested by the necessarily limited definition of the word provided by the Concise Oxford Dictionary, and quoted in his letter by Mr Corless.
In conclusion, and for the record, Cardinal Daly did not "resign" the primacy, as is indicated by Mr Corless. He retired some weeks ago on the occasion of his 79th birthday. - Yours, etc.,
Park Lane,
Dublin 4.