Sir, – Once again (report, April 30th) Aosdána circles its wagons and complains about “hostile scrutiny” from the media. This is an organisation that seems to do little except perpetuate cliques and argue shrilly for support from the taxpayer.
It’s good to see one of its number (James Hanley) suggest that there could be better communication about what it actually does. It has certainly, for example, helped many fine artists create full-time rather than dissipate their energies elsewhere.
But how many? Aosdána is often referred to as an Irish equivalent of the Académie Française. It has 40 members from a population of 65 million while Aosdána has 248 members from a population of six million. Yours, etc.
JOHN P O’SULLIVAN,
Saval Park Crescent
Dalkey ,
Co Dublin
Sir, – Is there any reason not to believe that the number of distinguished individuals capable of accounting for important output, prestige and making a credible difference to the stature of the arts in Ireland is closer to 25 than 250 persons? Should Mr Deenihan be spending taxpayers’ money more strategically? Yours, etc,
MYLES DUFFY,
Bellevue Avenue,
Glenageary,
Co Dublin