LIAM O CUINNEAGAIN,
Sir, - Your edition of January 10th carried a fine photograph of Mikhail Gorbachev holding his Freedom of the City parchment. Predictably, it was in English with a Russian translation. I presume a Russian diplomat provided the translation; a quick e-mail or fax to Foras na Gaeilge would have provided the city fathers with a version in Gaeilge.
Would that have been too much trouble? Possibly there wasn't enough space on the parchment? Probably it never crossed anyone's mind. No problem with the pint of Guinness in Doheny & Nesbitt's, though! This was obviously Dublin City Council's way of displaying our unique Irishness. Sláinte! - Yours, etc.,
LIAM Ó CUINNEAGÁIN,
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Gleann Cholm Cille,
Co Dhún na nGall.