A chara, – Further to Frank McNally’s “A history of Ireland in 100 goodbyes” (An Irishman’s Diary, September 30th), a recent visit to Granny on the southside of the city ended after we were asked, “Is it the M50 you’ll be taking home?” – Yours, etc,
RUTH HOPKINS,
Dublin 5.
Sir, – My father told me that my grandfather might say to guests “And what time would you normally go to bed at in your own house?” This could be followed swiftly by a “Sure what’s your hurry anyway.” At this point, though, the damage was done. – Yours, etc,
From Blair and Clinton to civil servants in the shadows, archive papers reveal scale of peace push
JFK’s four days in Ireland among happiest of his life, his father told De Valera
‘Buying the bank seemed daring’: how one couple transformed a rural bank branch into a home and business
Megan Nolan: A conversation with a man in his late 30s made clear the realities of this new era in my dating life
BILL CARROLL,
Foxrock,
Dublin 18.
Sir, – “Ciao ciao, brown cow!” – Yours, etc,
THOMAS MORRIS GORMALLY,
Rathangan,
Co Kildare.
Sir, – “Farewell, good bye, aufwiedersehen, adieu!” – Yours, etc,
CATHY HARTUNG,
Harolds Cross,
Dublin 6W.
Sir, – As a late and great friend of mine said when he wished you to leave: “What can I get you? Hat? Coat? Taxi?” – Yours, etc,
PATRICK BOYLAN,
Foxrock,
Dublin 18.
Sir, – Father to teenage daughters: “Goodbye, girls.”
Daughters: “Whatever.” – Yours, etc,
PETER McCARTHY,
Blessington,
Co Wicklow.
Sir, – In memory of a beloved aunt, our family sign-off for any occasion is “So now, so.” – Yours, etc,
MARY McCORMACK,
Drumcondra,
Dublin 9.
A chara, – Many moons ago, while leaving my then girlfriend to the gate of her home in North Dublin, I bid her a good night with an “Oíche mhaith.” Her response was “Eat a wha?” – Is mise,
VINCENT HOLMES,
Galway.
Sir, – “Next time you’re passin’ will you just keep goin’” – Yours, etc,
ELLEN LEAHY,
Bray,
Co Wicklow.
Sir, – “Would you shut the door from the outside?” – Yours, etc,
PADRAIG O’ROURKE,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – Back in the 1960s I was dating this guy and was sitting with him in our living room late one night when my mother banged on the bedroom floor and asked him, “Have you no home to go to?”
He picked up a sweeping brush and banged on the ceiling telling her to “Go asleep.” How she agreed to me marrying him I’ll never know. – Yours, etc,
LAURA GILLEN,
Dublin 16.