ULTAN O BROIN,
Madam, - According to his biography, the brilliant, fluent Irish-speaking Irish Times columnist Myles na Gopaleen was of the opinion that Douglas Hyde, founder of the Gaelic League, first President of Ireland and his professor of Irish in UCD, spoke the language "inaccurately and badly".
Given that such a range of opinion will exist on what constitutes "fluency", I am intrigued as to how agreement will be reached on what level of Irish will qualify for the granting of planning permission in the Connemara Gaeltacht (The Irish Times, December 19th). The proposal is worthy of The Cruiskeen Lawn itself.
Perhaps they could put make "Connemara Planning Permission" an option on the CAO form. - Yours, etc.,
ULTAN Ó BROIN, San Francisco, USA.