Madam, - Bill Fearey (June 20th) suggests that St Patrick's Day be replaced by Bloomsday.
He argues that there is no clear evidence that St Patrick ever existed. The evidence for St Patrick from his own writings is one of the few secure facts from fifth-century Ireland.
The humility of Patrick evident in his writings is far removed from many aspects of the institutions with which Mr Fearey wants to associate him. Mr Fearey has perhaps also forgotten that St Patrick is the founding saint of more than one Christian church in Ireland. I see little point in trying to de-sanctify a historical individual in favour of a fictional one. - Yours, etc.,
MICHAEL O'NEILL, Carrickbrack Hill, Dublin 13.