A chara, – I fear the conflation of major festivals may be even more confusing than what Emer McLysaght’s shopping experience suggests (Halloween becomes more demented year on year, October 27th). My local supermarket is full of pumpkins, Halloween treats, mince pies and selection boxes, like hers, but we also have hot cross buns. No Easter eggs . . . yet. – Yours, etc,
JOE McLAUGHLIN,
Bonnyrigg ,
Midlothian, Scotland.
International Booker Prize 2025: Indian author and translators are first to win with a short story collection
How much can I earn and still qualify for social housing?
Look inside: Stylish and spacious Ranelagh terrace for €1.295m
EV Q&A: Why do electric cars still have old-fashioned 12-volt batteries?
Sir, – For some reason that I can never quite put my finger on, I always enjoy finding the ring in a barm brack. – Yours, etc,
TOM GILSENAN,
Dublin 9.
A chara, – The advice from for anyone intending to play trick-or-treat this Halloween is to keep an eye on the Met Éireann rainfall radar map. Everyday I use the Met Éireann app it feels like I am playing trick-or-treat. – Yours, etc,
DERMOT O’ROURKE,
Lucan, Co Dublin.
Sir, – In common with many other neighbourhoods, almost every house is “decorated” for Halloween. In recent years, the displays have become ever more gruesome and realistic.
Do parents ever consider the inappropriateness of these decorations? How many of the same parents do not allow their children watch the evening news on account of the graphic images and reports?
This year, the most horrific decoration would be to display on our doors and gates, the daily newspaper reports from Israel and Gaza. – Yours, etc,
DAVID LOUGHLIN,
Rathmines, Dublin 6.
