Sir, - in his "Times Square" column (May 27th), your columnist Brendan Glacken trots out the same old stereotypes about young people living in rural Ireland - and more particularly, those who are members of Macra na Feirme. While denying that he wants to mock "culchie" artistic aspirations, he goes on to do precisely that. The clear implications is that all good culchies should simply listen to their Country and Western favourites and hum "I want to be a Cowboy's Sweetheart" into the ear of the nearest farmer.
It's just not on that Macra na Feirme members are not conforming to the cliche chosen for them by those of Mr Glacken's ilk. He makes the point that he is concerned about the notion of "our young farming stock involving themselves in accentuated hip movements with the torso held erect" and that "it was not for this the Wild Geese spread the grey wing upon every tide".
Mr Glacken could do with some enlightenment on the real reasons behind rural decline and depopulation. it was precisely the lack of any accentuated hip movements, or indeed anything "hip", which discouraged young people in rural Ireland from staying in their home towns, and which continues to encourage such an exodus to large urban centres, Dublin in particular.
Be warned, Mr Glacken; the drums are beating a different tune in Thurles, and hell hath no fury like a Macra samba band scorned.
Yours, etc.,
Arts officer,
Macra na Feirme, Rathmore Lawn, South Douglas Road, Cork.