Sir, - In modern society, where both partners in a relationship, married or otherwise, usually have different individual roles to play in life outside the home, is it still necessary to issue official and non-domestic invitations in both names when one partner has no direct involvement in the function?
If the situation were reversed and Ms Larkin was organising a function in her sphere of work, would the invitation read "Ms Larkin and the Taoiseach request the pleasure. . ?" Not likely!
Surely the "both names" tradition has its origin in Victorian etiquette, when the man of the house organised the occasion, and his wife had to be given credit for doing the cooking! Today, an official invitation issued in the host's name only would not only avoid controversy but would also suggest that, in the year 2001, men are capable of cooking! - Yours, etc..
Adrian Hewson, Convent Hill, Roscrea, Co Tipperary.