Sir, – When I was a young girl, trying to emulate the prowess of my brother’s whistling, my mother would quote this rhyme to me, much to my great annoyance: “A whistling women and a crowing hen are neither fit for God nor men.” – Yours, etc,
MARILYNN HEARNE,
Tramore,
CoWaterford.
Sir, – A lot of hot air? – Yours, etc,
TOM GILSENAN,
Dublin 9.
Sir, – Benedict Blunnie (April 9th) refers to the "corrupting influence of whistling cornerboys".
Cornerboys were not meant to whistle or do anything else.
In the words of John B Keane, “Lay people do not understand the function of a corner boy. He is not obliged to respond to questions or make observations. His function is to be there.” – Yours, etc,
MATTIE LENNON,
Blessington,
Co Wicklow.
Sir, – The weekend! Time to wet your whistle. – Yours, etc,
PATRICIA O’RIORDAN,
Dublin 8.