Madam, - Some people are saying it would be appropriate if we beat England 19-16 in Croke Park. Maybe.
But let's hope they don't beat us 19-20. - Yours, etc,
DECLAN O'KEEFFE, Richmond Court, Dartry, Dublin 6.
Madam,- Like Mark Cunningham (February 14th), I am a fan of most of the sports about which Tom Humphries writes so brilliantly (with the possible exception of juvenile camogie). I believe that rugby is the finest field game in the world, combining power and grace like none other. It is, however, one sport that I prefer to watch on television, rather than from a terrace full of Barbour jackets and silly hats.
It seems to me to be a strange contradiction that a game requiring such commitment and intensity can attract so many people who seem far more interested in fashion than passion.
I am not suggesting, of course, that Mr Cunningham belongs to this brigade. I am sure that he, and many others like him, are capable of enjoying the game they love without being hampered by the histrionics of the fashioned few. Perhaps Tom Humphries and I could learn from such commendable tolerance.
I would suggest to him, however, that there is enough positive coverage of the great sport of rugby (sometimes as much as five full sheets) within the pages of The Irish Timesto allow the witty grumblings of Mr Humphries to get at least an annual airing. - Yours, etc,
B.P. HENNESSEY, Shankill, Upper Cavan, Co Cavan.
Madam, - Since southside Dubliners - especially the rugby fraternity - are less than familiar with the landscape of anywhere north of the River Liffey, I pose the question: Has there been a marked increase in the number of people reported missing since last weekend?
If so, it might explain why, early last Monday morning, as I was strolling up Dorset Street (north inner city), I was accosted on no fewer than three separate occasions by some quite forlorn looking characters who asked me to point them in the direction of the nearest "Dort" station. - Yours, etc,
PAUL DELANEY, Beacon Hill, Dalkey.