Madam, - David Rolfe (April 25th) tells us that "there's a big difference between a political artist and a politician who also happens to be an artist".
Given the context, I assume that he is referring to myself. Although it is none of Mr Rolfe's business, I was a composer member of Aosdána for some 15 years before becoming involved in the Palestinian solidarity movement. This involvement does not make me a politician, nor does my music constitute "political art", to which Mr Rolfe magnanimously informs us he has no objection.
Of course Aosdána must not become "a political lobby group", but its remit entitles it to comment on matters concerning artistic practice. For this reason the successful Aosdána motion was a specific response to a call for solidarity from Palestinian film-makers and artists. - Yours, etc,
RAYMOND DEANE, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin.