Sir, – Frank McNally (An Irishman's Diary, February 10th) reminded us how tricky it has been to name the archipelago on which we live. The "British" Isles clearly will not do.
In 1811, the English utilitarian and political philosopher Jeremy Bentham proposed to senior British officials that, in the interests of political harmony, these islands be renamed “Brithibernia”.
It was a clunky conflation that sank like a stone, never to be heard of again. But, of course, one might ask, what was wrong with “Hiberniabrit”? – Yours, etc,
FINTAN LANE,
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Lucan,
Co Dublin.