Sir, - Paul Twohig (November 29th) complains that some of the letters in The Irish Times are "irritating" and "inane", and adds sarcastically that regular letter writers "astound us with their brilliance".
The Letters page is where the common man and woman gets to have his/her say about everything from (yes, dammit!) the earliest cuckoo to the "progressing" of the peace process and from the service provided by Bus Eireann to the dreaded millennium. On this page people express their thoughts freely (in both senses of the word). It is a barometer of public opinion on many subjects. And then there is some nonsense.
If Mr Twohig wants to get deadly serious, professionally researched journalism he should skip the Letters page and read only the articles by Fintan O'Toole, Vincent Browne and the rest of the crew.
Loosen up, Paul, and remember the old saying:
"A little nonsense now and then
Is relished even by the wisest of men." - Yours, etc.,
Michael McGuire, Speenogue, Burt, Co Donegal.