Sir, – Further to “Pull the plug now on the antediluvian Rose of Tralee” (Justine McCarthy, Opinion & Analysis, August 18th), I wouldn’t watch the Rose of Tralee unless tied to a chair and forced-fed crisps but there appears to be enough “Roses” prepared to enter the pageant and an available audience of over 500,000 viewers – primarily female – for RTÉ to satisfy and also generate money from. How it fulfils its public service remit is open to debate but I find thousands of people find sport broadcasting, primarily for males, equally questionable.
Perhaps we can agree to each their own and select another channel, turn on the radio or go talk to the neighbours. – Yours, etc,
TOMÁS FINN,
Cappataggle,
Matt Williams: Take a deep breath and see how Sam Prendergast copes with big Fiji test
New Irish citizens: ‘I hear the racist and xenophobic slurs on the streets. Everything is blamed on immigrants’
Jack Reynor: ‘We were in two minds between eloping or going the whole hog but we got married in Wicklow with about 220 people’
‘I could have gone to California. At this rate, I probably would have raised about half a billion dollars’
Ballinasloe,
Co Galway.
Sir, – Justine McCarthy’s reasoning for discontinuing this annual two-night bore fest is entirely sound. Moreover, thoughts of darker, more dreary autumnal days ahead are not made easier by the infliction on the long-suffering public of this outdated cailín deas contest that should have no place on national television.
The straitened circumstances in which RTÉ currently finds itself provide the new director general with perfect cover to save money and give the Rose of Tralee a long-overdue decent burial. Compliant licence-fee payers deserve no less. – Yours, etc,
PJ McDERMOTT,
Westport,
Co Mayo.
Sir, – If you do not like or approve of the Rose of Tralee, do not watch it.
Just stop moaning and let other people enjoy it. – Yours, etc,
GERALDINE O’BRIEN,
Deansgrange,
Co Dublin.