Madam, - I agree with everything Kevin Myers wrote in his Diary of December 2nd. However, I would say the TV programme Friends is influencing not only the way Irish people speak but also how they gesticulate. Now almost every utterance is accompanied by arms outstretched and palms turned upwards.
W.B. Yeats once said that actors should be forced to act on stage in barrels. Unfortunately, the Friends cast did not act in barrels and now Irish people imitate their dramatic gestures. If this aping wins the "Darwinian contest", then the Friends hand-signal, traffic-directing style will eventually be an accurate portrayal of how we Irish communicate. A Thiarna, déan trócaire orainn. - Yours, etc.,
MICHAEL McGUIRE,
Speenogue,
Burt,
Co Donegal.