Sir, - Your front-page article (October 31st), quoted the current Archbishop of Dublin, Cardinal Desmond Connell, to the effect that in 1985 "when Trinity celebrated the third centenary of Berkeley, and Berkeley was heavily influenced by Malebranche, I was informed that I was not invited to give a talk there, though I was invited to give a few quid . . .".
The facts of the matter, according to the files extant in the Philosophy Department here at Trinity College, are as follows:
1. None of the speakers at the Berkeley Conference held on August 19-22nd, 1985, to celebrate the 300th anniversary of Berkeley's birth, was invited.
2. There was the usual "call for papers", in the Berkeley Newsletter No.6 1982/3 and in other philosophy journals, and the speakers were then chosen by the organising committee.
3. There is no record of the then Prof Connell's having submitted either a paper or an abstract of one.
4. Prof Connell was listed as a participant at the conference along with 68 others and, as was the case with all the participants, being registered as a participant implied that the conference registration fee (of £15) had been paid by post or in person.
5. No person or department was asked for money as a subvention for the conference which was well financed by the Trinity Trust and other benefactors. - Yours, etc.,
William Lyons, Paul O'Grady, Department of Philosophy, School of Mental and Moral Science, Trinity College, Dublin 2.