Sir, - Full marks to Fintan O'Toole for exposing the naive myth that Northern Ireland is simply divided between two "cultures" or "traditions", and for rejecting the notion that Johnny Adair's beliefs and actions represent some kind of Protestant culture. He quite correctly argues that Adair's adoption of a mishmash of "movies, pop-songs, brand names and tabloid TV" does not constitute a culture.
However, I'm afraid I cannot accept his assertion that Adair's ignorant sectarianism has a Catholic equivalent. Is this a perverted "parity of esteem" at work? I would like to ask Mr O'Toole to name one leader from the nationalist or Republican side who has aired, in public, similar sentiments of sectarianism, hatred and bigotry. - Yours, etc.,
Robert Ballagh, Arbour Hill, Dublin 7.