Madam, - At the ceremony marking the Irish Times/ESB Theatre Awards, the three judges involved were reported in your paper to have attended all new theatre and opera productions the island of Ireland in the year 2003.
A person unfamiliar with the Irish situation would probably expect that the judges attended both English and Irish language plays in that period. If they had done, it would be impossible to understand how Joe Steve Ó Neachtain's play, Níor Mhaith Liom Do Thrioblóid, which won a Stewart Parker award, could have escaped their attention. This play packed the Taibhdhearc of Galway during October 2000 and was recalled by public acclaim in the following two years, as well as featuring in the Mint Theatre Space in Dublin during Easter 2003.
Ignoring Irish language plays in this manner has become the norm in Ireland, with the result that the term "Irish Theatre" is typically used to denote plays in English only, as if in fact the Irish language no longer existed. Our National Theatre, the Abbey, for instance, is celebrating its centenary without a single play in the Irish language.
Is this an attitude only - or has it become a policy? - Yours, etc.,
SIOBHÁN
NÍ SHÚILLEABHÁIN,
Newcastle,
Galway.
The Irish Times/ESB have not disregarded Irish language drama: in 2002, Bríd Ní Neachtain was nominated in the Best Actress category for her role in An Taibhdhearc na Gaillimhe's production of Cré na Cille by Máirtín Ó Cadhain.- Ed.,I.T.