The Presidential Election

Sir, - Dana will have my fifth preference vote, but I have to hand it to her for outwitting the party system, and also for raising…

Sir, - Dana will have my fifth preference vote, but I have to hand it to her for outwitting the party system, and also for raising a real issue: secular sectarianism and intolerance masquerading as liberalism.

Back in August it was sad to find Fintan O'Toole raising the first hubristic crozier among a cloned hierarchy of columnists and commentators since then in full cry. Is it possible that Fintan might yet prove to have done for Dana what P. Flynn did for Mary Robinson?

And then last week we had the bare-fisted radio bout between Vincent Browne and the Derry contender. What beats me is why Vincent was obliged to issue an apology afterwards, given that he was the one left reeling on the ropes. - Your, etc.,

Carrick-on-Suir, Co Tipperary.