Answering Ireland's Call

Madam, - Surely anybody who has been at Lansdowne Road for a recent rugby international must be moved by the wonderful atmosphere…

Madam, - Surely anybody who has been at Lansdowne Road for a recent rugby international must be moved by the wonderful atmosphere, which is given full vent with the singing of the national anthems and in particular Ireland's Call.

It brings tears of pride to my eyes to be part of something that includes the whole island and that anybody on this island can share in.

The comments of Richard Moxley and Keith Nolan (September 16th) are simply childish and are symptomatic of the small-mindedness of people who won't move with the times.

They are also a gross insult to the composer, Phil Coulter, one of our foremost songwriters. I think it is great; well done Phil and well done the IRFU. - Yours, etc.,

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CHARLES BOURKE,

Beach Road,

Clifden,

Co Galway.

Madam, - Cahir Healy is right (September 15th) to remind us that Ireland's Call is an anthem for an Irish rugby team representing all 32 counties and not merely 26.

The IRFU is to be congratulated on its respect for all political and religious traditions on the island of Ireland. Nevertheless, the expression of so noble an ideal ought to be in the form of an inspiring rather than merely a politically correct anthem.

I suggest now (as I have done before) that Danny Boy or There Is An Isle would be both appropriate and inspiring. - Yours, etc.,

GERALD MORGAN, FTCD,

Trinity College,

Dublin 2.