TOM BRACE,
Sir, - I would like to endorse the points made by David Norris (June 20th) in his response to John Waters's criticism of the university seats in the Senate (Opinion, June 17th).
I have no wish to trade deprivation stories with Mr Waters, but, unlike him, I did not leave school at 18. Due to economic circumstances I left Blackpits National school in Dublin at 14 and took up work as an operative in a clothing factory in Patrick Street. At the age of 19 I joined the Army as a private soldier in Cathal Brugha Barracks and served for 21 years, reaching the rank of quartermaster sergeant.
In 1989, aged 40, I left the Army, having been accepted as a mature student at Trinity College. For the first three years of my four-year degree course I had to pay my own fees until, in the academic year 1922-1993, fees for mature students were abolished.
In his column Mr Waters made play with the word "privilege". Certainly it was a privilege to attend Trinity and study English literature under lecturers such as Terence Browne, Gerald Dawe, Brendan Kennelly and Michael Longley. It was both a privilege and a considerable pleasure to attend the Joycean Studies course given by Mr David Norris. Now that I have a Senate vote I feel I have earned that privilege.
It certainly wasn't handed to me on a plate. - Yours, etc.,
TOM BRACE, Park Crescent, Kimmage, Dublin 12.