Sir, – “Arthur’s Day” is a sham, and typical of the cultural cul de sac considered a destination by so many people in this country. The abuse of alcohol is central to many of the problems in Ireland from domestic abuse to drink-driving to anti-social behaviour on the streets. So what do we do? We celebrate it by providing a day where the desperate, the reckless and the pliable feel obligated to go out and get wasted.
There is nothing more pitiful than seeing hordes of staggering, urinating, flailing fools wandering around town, squandering evolution. – Yours, etc,