An Irishman's Diary

Sir, - I'm delighted about Kevin Myers's Kevin Myers. But black looks for Conor Brady. It's not the "very first anthology..

Sir, - I'm delighted about Kevin Myers's Kevin Myers. But black looks for Conor Brady. It's not the "very first anthology...".

That honour goes to the doyen of diarists, Patrick Campbell. In 1950 Cassell brought out his An Irishman's Diary. It was illustrated by Ronald Searle and dedicated, as you'd expect, to Robert Maire Smyllie (who'll also give you black looks over his glasses, Mr Brady).

I have a well-thumbed copy to support this sacred fact. - Yours, etc.,

Matthew Byrne, Greystones, Co Wicklow.

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I'm grateful to Mr Byrne for his humbling correction - Ed., IT.