A poet laureate

Madam, - It seems odd that a country such as Ireland with its rich poetic tradition has not, unlike the neighbouring island, …

Madam, - It seems odd that a country such as Ireland with its rich poetic tradition has not, unlike the neighbouring island, ever appointed a Poet Laureate.

Now Scotland has given the equivalent title of "Makar" to Edwin Morgan, one of that country's outstanding poets. Wales is considering various candidates for a similar poetic honour.

Here we have an unofficial laureate in Seamus Heaney. Why not make it official? - Yours, etc.,

ROBERT GREACEN, Tritonville Close, Dublin 4.