Sir, – Like Frank McNally, I do not like the use of the word “passed” to describe someone who has died (An Irishman’s Diary, November 29th).
My favourite euphemism is “gathered”. Its use is best illustrated by an apocryphal quote attributed to a Scottish ghillie: “They call it the dead man’s pool; he waded too far and he was gathered.” – Yours, etc,
JULIAN GAISFORD-ST LAWRENCE ,
Coil Dubh,
READ MORE
Markets in Vienna or Christmas at The Shelbourne? 10 holiday escapes over the festive season
Ciara Mageean: ‘I just felt numb. It wasn’t even sadness, it was just emptiness’
Stealth sackings: why do employers fire staff for minor misdemeanours?
Carl and Gerty Cori: a Nobel Prizewinning husband and wife team
Co Kildare.