Sir, - In his "Irishman's Diary" of June 3rd, Kevin Myers criticises the late Thomas P. O'Neill on foot of an Irish-language biography of Eamonn de Valera, co-authored by O'Neill. Mr Myers states that O'Neill had the opportunity when writing the biography "to ask de Valera's mother directly" about the circumstances of her marriage, and then proceeds to rubbish O'Neill for failing to interview her.
Since Kate de Valera died in 1932 when Thomas O'Neill was 12, barring that he was the Child Jesus in the Temple he could scarcely have interviewed her. In any event the last time that she visited Ireland was in 1907.
In recent months, though there have been a number of letters to The Irish Times detailing mistakes by Kevin Myers, he has shown himself reluctant to apologise when he gets his facts wrong. He apparently regards himself as an authority on history, literature, art, economics and political commentary and - God bless his neck - he expects his readers to do so as well. Facts, however, are the nuts and bolts of good journalism. If Kevin Myers regards them as a tyrannical imposition then he should shift his undoubted writing skills elsewhere - perhaps try the short story. - Yours, etc., Ulick O'Connor,
Fairfield Park, Rathgar, Dublin 6.