Sir, - As experienced members of the media, both Eithne Hand and Pat Dunne (October 20th)should know that freelance contributions to "An Irishman's Diary" are often written and submitted several weeks in advance of publication.
Hency my inability to foretell the broadcasting of the Kevin Barry ballad, sung by Paul Robeson, twice on RTE Radio 1 to mark the re-interment of Barry and his comrades, or to know about the "scheduled" broadcast of the same ballad in two other programmes. Incidentally, did these take place?
So, the Kevin Barry ballad was broadcast twice - in how many years, may one ask? Or any other patriotic ballad, for that matter? As my five-year-old grandson might say: "Big Deal".
Thus, my original point stands - the State radio's apparent aversion to broadcasting any kind of patriotic ballad over a period of at least 25 years, despite many requests from listeners to do so. - Yours, etc.,
Richard Roche, Kincora Avenue, Dublin 3.
