Sir - I refer to parts of the article "Has the Arts Council grown up too fast?", (The Irish Times, October 21st). In implied criticism of those who served on An Chomhairle Ealaion through the years your correspondent states: "These appointments are not based solely on merit, but also on a combination of political astuteness, comprehensive networking, and grace and favour . . . Constant debate and dialogue are the cornerstones of a healthy cultural life, but ironically this is limited as a direct result of the current Arts Council appointments process".
The unwary might well gather from such sentences that members of An Chomhairle Ealaion now and in the past consisted of dumb and timid party hacks.
I am a long-serving member of An Chomhairle Ealaion. Among those whom I am proud to have had as colleagues at different times are the following: Eavan Boland; Vivienne Roche; Ciaran Benson; Paul McGuinness; Michael Colgan; Arthur Gibney; Robert Ballagh; James White; Brian Boydell; Maire de Paor; Andrew Devane; Brian Friel; J.B. Kearney; Michael Scott; Donald Potter; Kathleen Barrington; Dermot Bolger; Patrick Hall; Dr Tom Walsh; Pat Murray; Patrick Murphy; Brid Dukes; Charles Hennessy; Ted Hickey; Nora Relihan; Richard Kearney; Larry McCluskey; Ciaran MacGonigal; Micheal O Siahdail; Eric Sweeney; Kathleen Watkins; Paraic Breatnach; Mary Elizabeth Burke Kennedy; Eithne Healy; Vic Merriman; Aidan O'Carroll.
It would be difficult to question the great commitment and involvement in the arts of all of these. Could another system provide better and more dedicated persons as members of an art council?
It grieves me that people who gave magnificent service to the arts as members of An Chomhairle Ealaion should be casually insulted. However, I am not too surprised.
May I add that the present Arts Council appointed by Ms Sile de Valera is in every sense as active and as concerned with the promotion of the arts and the wellbeing of artists as any other council? - Yours, etc.,
Proinsias MacAonghusa, Blackrock, Co. Dublin.