Sir, – I was more than surprised to read Ross Hoey’s piece on his negative experience of having an Irish accent in the UK in the last decade (“‘I learned to hide my Irish accent, or at least to feel deeply ashamed of it’”, Abroad, April 8th). Having moved to the UK in 2007, my experience is the polar opposite, and I would argue that in fact an Irish accent has been an asset. Indeed, I have found the English people to be the most tolerant and accepting of all accents and creeds. Sadly, the only pushback we have experienced on accents is when my Irish-born but UK-schooled children return to holiday in Ireland. – Yours, etc,
TOM WALSH,
Wimbledon,
London.