Madam, - Kevin Myers has harsh words for Lurgan, Co Armagh (An Irishman's Diary, July 14th). May I say something in its defence?
George William Russell (AE) was born in Lurgan in 1867 and spent his first 11 years there. A man of outstanding and varied talents, if not genius like his lifelong friend WB Yeats, he seems never to have had an enemy. Even Patrick Kavanagh gratefully remembered the encouragement given him by the man from Lurgan. - Yours, etc,
ROBERT GREACEN, Sandymount, Dublin 4.