Sir, - I am surprised by Rory O'Hanlon's petty comments (February 25th) about the President's mantilla. Has he asked the Pope if he is bothered whether or not women wear mantillas when visiting him? Has the Pope replied that ill-fitting mantillas are the root of all the world's evils and given Rory O'Hanlon a high horse to ride as chief Irish mantilla quality controller? I am sure the Pope was more concerned about his discussion with the President on ecumenism than with the current style of mantillas.
It strikes me as odd that Rory O'Hanlon had no comment to make about the President's positive remarks about her talks with the Pope. But maybe he would have preferred to see her excommunicated for the incorrect size and position of her mantilla. I think the President respected the spirit of the law and not the letter, which is in my opinion reasonable, Christian and correct. - Yours, etc., Sean Owens,
St Brigid's Grove, Killester, Dublin 5.