Madam, - Given his passionate interest in sport, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern may well consider holding a national day of mourning for fellow Irish sporting fans. Consider what this hapless group has been forced to endure over the past month: the two most one-sided and eminently forgettable All-Ireland football and hurling finals on record; two abysmal displays by the national soccer side; and two equally pathetic efforts by our much-vaunted rugby XV in the World Cup.
And some people claim happenings at the Mahon tribunal were boring! - Yours, etc,
JOHN O'SHEA,
Monkstown,
Co Dublin.
Madam, - The time has come for the Irish rugby team to leave the analysis, advanced techniques and statistics behind. I have no doubt that this is the best prepared Irish sports team ever. But they seem to have forgotten the basic facts. The Irish, south and north, Catholic and Protestant, green and orange are a proud, passionate and great people, not perfect for sure, but great nonetheless. My message to the team is to trust in their preparation and return to their heritage as brave, honest and proud Irishmen. Forget about those fancy new jerseys and get stuck in. Leave nothing out there. Win or lose, that's that really matters. - Yours, etc,
PADDY BAXTER,
Ashcroft,
Dublin 5.
Madam, - The IRFU hurried to make the man they consider Ireland's best ever rugby coach the world's longest serving rugby coach. They have also indicated that they will make him available for the Lions. Why the delay? Give him to the Lions now. - Yours, etc,
BOBBY BRENNAN,
Newbridge,
Co Kildare.