Madam, - The origins of Munster rugby rallying anthems such as The Fields of Athenryand Stand Up and Fightare well known, but there are many theories as to the source of There Is An Isle, the other adopted rugby anthem from St Mary's Parish in Limerick.
Vincent Browne (Opinion, May 21st) is one of many to surmise that this song is about an island in the Hebrides, but there is no proof that this is so. Certainly the word "bonny", which is mentioned once in the song, is of Scottish and Northern English origin, but that does not necessarily mean the song is Scottish. Older St Mary's parishioners maintained it was a late Victorian parlour room song taught to the pupils in St Mary's Convent over a century ago by a teacher named Miss Casey, and adopted as the island parish anthem, and later by Shannon RFC.
Let us hope it will be sung in celebration this Saturday night. - Yours, etc,
DENIS O'SHAUGHNESSY,
Janemount Park,
Limerick.