I want to begin today by saying a big "thank you" to the people of Argentina for all the e-mails you have sent me over the past 48 hours. Little did I realise that The Irish Timeswas so widely read in Buenos Aires.
And my pride at the discovery is only slightly diminished by the abusive tone of many of your comments - most of which concern my report on Sunday's rugby match, in which I noted, inter alia, that the Argentinian anthem was "like the soundtrack of a comic scene in an opera".
I have not had time yet to read all your e-mails; only the first 80 or so. But in answer to some of the most common queries raised, no, I am not any of the following: (1) deaf; (2) tone-deaf; (3) a Wagner enthusiast.
Yes, I was disappointed by Ireland's performances in France. But no, I have not been unhinged by grief. Indeed, insofar as I understand it, I agree with the pithy verdict of one correspondent, who confines himself to Spanish: "Lo que parece una escena comica de una opera es el juego de Irlanda!!"
On a separate issue mentioned in my match report, yes Rodrigo - journalist from Buenos Aires - I know very well that Che Guevara was Argentinian. I only said that his mother's people were from Galway. In fact, I read the Motorcycle Diaries - his account of an epic journey around South America - a while ago, and thoroughly enjoyed it.
One episode I recall from the book was a night he spent sleeping in a shed, terrorised by thoughts of a puma that was said to be prowling the neighbourhood. When the youthful revolutionary was woken in the early hours by growling and saw two bright eyes peering at him, he grabbed his revolver and shot what later proved to be his host family's pet dog. But it was an understandable mistake. After two days of correspondence from Argentinian rugby fans, I understand Che Guevara's nervousness about Pumas very well.
This reminds me: before going any further, I think I should say here that my comments about the anthem were mistranslated. I'm not claiming it's true. I just think I should say it, because it sounds good. Also it's a popular tactic with foreign diplomats in Ireland whenever a speech lands them in trouble.
The second point I want to make to Argentinian readers is that I was nearly as thrilled by Sunday's result as you were. To paraphrase your anthem (the lyrics of which, in response to repeated urgings, I since looked up): "I salute the great people of Argentina!" Not content with saluting you, I embrace you too - albeit in a manly way (something the Irish defence didn't do much on Sunday).
My affection for your country extends to other sporting codes. When Diego Maradona scored his famous second goal against England in the 1986 World Cup, nobody cheered louder than I did. As an occasion of joy, that event still ranks next only to the birth of my children. I have a video of it on my mobile phone.
Having said all of which, I will now try to clarify my comments about the anthem, as suggested by one of the more polite e-mails, from Alfredo Moreno. In clarifying, it may be helpful to mention two other comments I received. The first was from Nicolas Quinn (one of several correspondents with Irish surnames) who said: "At least [ we] sing [ our] national anthem, not a pub song"; the other from Christian Martin, who lampooned Ireland's Callthus: "Shoulder to shoulder, you are going home, Paddies". This is the nub of the issue. My casual verdict on the Argentinian anthem was made in the context of a debate here about the politically correct anthem that our team now sings. There is a school of thought - optimistic, it seems to me - that if the official anthem was reinstated, it might inspire the players more - or at least the majority who recognise it as theirs.
In was in this light that I listened to the Argentinian song and was struck by its jaunty tone. I was also struck by its lengthy musical preamble, and the surprise twist when - just as one thinks the tune is entirely instrumental - everybody starts singing. In both respects, I failed to see how it could inspire passion in a team.
I now realise that what we heard was a heavily edited version of the anthem, which in its entirety is said to be the world's longest. The complete song is not so much a scene from the opera as an entire show. Indeed, it was adapted - in the early 1800s - from a musical play, so the opera analogy was not far off.
I was also intrigued to read that, after initially refusing to rewrite the music, the composer was imprisoned until he obliged. I don't know if this is true (no doubt my Argentinian readers will tell me). But it's food for thought.
As part of the IRFU's review, the possibility of locking Phil Coulter up while he redrafts Ireland's Callmight at least be considered.
Anyway, people of Argentina, you have made abundantly clear how much your anthem means, and you can stop writing to me now. I apologise for the insult. And I give the last word to Josephine - an "Argentinian-Australian" - who writes generously that, despite my comments, "We still like Irish people". We like you too, Josephine, and we wish Argentina well for the rest of the tournament. Vamos Pumas!