Madam, - What a relief to read Fintan O' Toole's column of April 12th. After the claustrophobic newspeak which epitomised most of the Irish media coverage of the late pontiff's last days and funeral, Mr O'Toole's timely reminder of other events in the Ireland of 1979 shows what progress we have made during Pope John Paul II's reign towards becoming a more confident, secular and open society.
I say: Fintan O Toole - santo subito. - Yours, etc.,
GARY HEALY, Temple Manor, Celbridge, Co Kildare.