Understanding Hiberno-English

Madam, - I refer to Ruth Boal's letter of April 15th, "Bigotry on wheels".

Madam, - I refer to Ruth Boal's letter of April 15th, "Bigotry on wheels".

Given the dreadful manner in which the two African women were spoken to, it might be worth explaining to all people coming to Ireland from abroad that the words f*** and f****** are endemic in Irish society and are indispensable to many Irish people when trying to express themselves.

As the tourist season begins, perhaps Bord Fáilte or some such organisation should produce a leaflet explaining that what at first appears to be rudeness and bad manners is simply Paddy's way of over-f******-coming his inability to use the appropriate English words.

This can be blamed on the Famine. - Yours, etc.,

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P.J. KAVANAGH,

Luxembourg.