Madam, - Any of us involved in the arts must be intrigued by revelations in Siobhán Long's fascinating item of May 26th, wherein we learn that Minister for Arts John O'Donoghue has committed half-a-million euro in funding for Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, which was initially transferred from Éamon O Cuív's Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. All this magic, after Bertie Ahern is lobbied by a Fianna Fáil senator. The old ways certainly die hard.
John O'Donoghue's standard reply to arts groups which ask - and we at the Writers' Centre have asked - is that his Department does not give out funding directly. Éamon Ó Cuív has simply refused every application we ever made to him, in spite of our Irish-language literary contribution, which has been considerable, and our proximity to the Conamara Gaeltacht.
So from now on, since the precedent is solidly established and its processes published, all arts groups should take it that John O'Donoghue's Department may be approached for funding in the same way and as directly as, say, the Arts Council. Replies stating that the Department does not provide such funding should be binned on receipt and the funding applications resubmitted with copies of Siobhán Long's excellent little report enclosed.
Of course, one might just cut the red tape and send all grant applications directly to Bertie Ahern. Knowing what we now know, might we be justified in considering the bypassed Arts Council a last resort? - Yours, etc,
FRED JOHNSTON,
The Western Writers' Centre,
Nuns Island,
Galway.