BRENDAN O'REILLY,
Sir, - India and Pakistan are on the brink of nuclear war and the Indian Prime Minister says that his country can afford to have 25 million people die in a possible conflict.
The Middle East is in turmoil with Israel and the Palestinians showing no signs of being able to resolve their age-old differences.
Over 100 premises in this country have been raided by gardaí uncovering a network of people - including some so-called pillars of society - who deal in child pornography.
And what dominates our media? The behaviour of a 30-year-old millionaire who won't play football with another lot of millionaires.
The tabloids give it blanket coverage; the "quality papers" give it nearly as much and RTÉ radio - God help us - interviews a psychologist to help us all cope with the trauma.
Any chance of a little bit of perspective here? - Yours, etc.,
BRENDAN O'REILLY,
Castle Park,
Clondalkin,
Dublin 22.
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Sir, - Will Roy apologise to Mick? Will Mick apologise to Roy? Will the Irish team accept Roy back?
I feel that the FAI, the Irish Team, Mick and Roy should issue collectively, an apology to the Irish Nation and the World for the display of petulance, arrogance and bad example to our younger people who see them all as role models.
They then need to field their best team on Saturday and get on with the business in hand.
When the campaign is over there will be opportunity for calm and mature consideration of the issues raised.
Let us not add to the shame, embarrassment and the humiliation already caused. - Yours, etc
Dr BERTIE DALY,
Newmarket,
Co Cork.
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Sir, - Of course Mick McCarthy, as manager of the Irish soccer team, deserves an apology for the senseless personal insults which Roy Keane showered upon him. And maybe Mick McCarthy has apologies to make to Roy Keane, as the captain of the team, for shortcomings in the preparations at Saipan and in the way meetings which ought to have been discreet were instead made public.
We will go no further if all sides and their mentors stand on dignity and adopt the high moral ground. And everyone will be losers - the manager, the captain, the team, the FAI and, most of all, the fans.
What this situation needs is a magnanimous gesture from the only person who can deliver a solution to this embarrassing and nationally harmful débâcle - Mick McCarthy. He has shown by dedication, hard graft and a belief in his team that he is a good manager. Roy Keane has shown that he is a good captain for the same reasons.
The Irish fans and history will elevate both of them to a more deserving status if they can now show leadership and vision. - Yours, etc.,
CHRIS LYCETT,
The Glade,
Dublin 20.
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Sir, - I write to offer my services as mediator between Mick McCarthy and Roy Keane. I have many years' experience reconciling small boys with big egos in disputes over games of football. - Yours, etc.,
P. SLOWEY,
St Catherine's Infant School,
Dublin 7.
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Sir, - Admiring his tackles, his harrying, his tenacity and most of all his ability to cover the same ground again and again and again, I believe Tommie Gorman should be called up to play for Ireland. - Yours etc.,
BRENDAN HENNESSY,
Ballinacrusha,
Co Cork.