Sir, - The TV weather forecast is no place for the personality cult. Hapless Nuala Carey would be better placed where her attractive qualities are more important than the information for which she is now responsible. She presents (a) her good appearance, (b) her bright personality and (c) her sweet, somewhat penetrating voice. Thus she fails to present the weather forecast.
Weather forecasting belongs with the News, a department which requires serious presentation, where what is spoken must not be overshadowed by the appearance or diction of the speaker. Weather is not entertainment. It may matter little to people who live and work indoors, but it has serious implications - often financial, sometimes life-threatening - to a wide range of occupations and interests of which RTE must by now be very well aware. The listener's attention is best sustained by meteorological scientists who are engrossed in their subject and can from time to time explain things.
The switch-over to highly groomed, highly trained lay presenters will mean a switch-over to BBC weather. It would be interesting to know why RTE is persisting in this retrogressive change. - Yours, etc.,
Christine Walker, Cloncannon, Ballygar, Co Roscommon.