A chara, - Congratulations to last Monday's Diarist, Steve Coronella. He sure has us Irish figured out. He knows that following "the fortunes of England's Premiership teams" is a sine qua non of what it is to be Irish. Did he pick this up from our leading politicians? Now, if he blames the Roman Catholic Church for most of Ireland's problems, badmouths the Irish language and adds in the GAA for good measure, he will surely come across like one of us!
One word of warning, however. Our nearest neighbour may be the fount of our shopping, media, cultural and artistic experiences, but never refer to the place as "the mainland". Use that term only when you have bought the apartment or yacht in the Canary Islands.
Dia idir sinn agus gach olc. - Is mise,
DÓNALL Ó MURCHÚ, Bóthar Theach Mealóg, Baile Átha Cliath 6W.