In the mud at Glastonbury

Madam, - Two letter writers have variously described Saturday's front page photo as "ugly and vulgar" and "grotesque and distasteful…

Madam, - Two letter writers have variously described Saturday's front page photo as "ugly and vulgar" and "grotesque and distasteful". Whilst it could be described as distasteful, and possibly even vulgar, it is certainly not ugly or grotesque.

As the paper of record it is right that you continue to publish such photos, be they of the effects of war, natural disaster or merely of young wans engaging in muddy antics in the country next door.

I wonder if the reaction has more to do with a wish that if the young wans of D4, D6 (and even D18) do not see such images, then maybe they will behave in a more appropriate manner at Oxegen etc? - Yours, etc,

DECLAN DOYLE,

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Blackglen Road,

Sandyford.

Dublin 18.

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Madam, - When I saw last Saturday's front-page picture of the two girls having a bit of a tussle in the mud at Glastonbury, my principal reaction was that it must be nice to be young. With hindsight, I suppose it was inevitable that it would rattle the cages of the "Outraged, Rathgar" brigade. I can do no better than remind them of the words of our late, beloved sovereign Henry the Eighth: "Honi soit qui mal y pense." - Yours, etc,

PAUL GRIFFIN,

Kelsey Close,

St Helens,

Merseyside.

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Madam, - Two short letters in today's edition (June 26th) took exception to a photograph which appeared on the front page of Saturday's Irish Times, one describing it as "both ugly and vulgar" and the other as "grotesque and distasteful". I'd be interested to know if anyone else has detected the covert, sinister message in this seemingly wholesome picture since my perception is that of an innocent snapshot of playful youngsters spontaneously cavorting on a festive occasion.

Am I a naive senior who cannot see the forest for the trees? - Yours, etc,

EDWARD D. RAFFERTY,

Castlebridge,

Co Wexford.