A chara, - You will imagine my feelings as events unfolded in the way they did on St. David's Day at Murrayfield and Twickenham. Ireland were beaten up front, as we should not have been. Scotland were playing in Edinburgh for the pride of Scotland, and they were inspired by the playing of Flower of Scotland.
Cellnet does not deserve to win the Five Nations Championship. The national jersey is a sacred place, not an advertising hoarding (any more than a rugby pitch) England has dishonoured the white shirt (as has Dublin University) worn with distinction by her best players for over a century. Perhaps England can go to Cardiff on March 15th and not usurp the blue of Scotland. And perhaps it can play without an anthem, as Ireland has had to do in Cardiff for many years.
It is time to put an end to the rampant commercialism that is destroying our priceless heritage. Lansdowne Road is a place for rugby spectators, not corporate entertainment. It is a place for those who love Ireland, who will shout for Ireland, and who will sing for Ireland. - Mise le meas,
Trinity College, Dublin 2.