Sir, - The item on "Touchers" in your ever interesting feature "Times Past" (October 18th) reminded me of stories told by my father about life in Dublin in the 1920s where the "touchers" were a feature of life. Foremost among them, apparently was the Toucher Doyle who plied the pubs around North Earl Street with the line that his "profession" was very quiet at the moment!
The number one target for a touch was the popular and many times Lord Mayor, Alderman Alfie Byrne. My father and his brother trailed him one Sunday morning after 11.30 a.m. Mass in the Pro-Cathedral from there to the top of Grafton Street and back to Lloyds Bar in North Earl Street and counted him being approached about 30 times and parting with a shilling each time! He obviously knew the drill and travelled prepared for the touches. - Yours, etc.,
Robert K. Gahan, Stepaside, Co Dublin.