Sir - When Kevin Myers complains he has not seen a single swift this summer (An Irishman's Diary, July 31st), he obviously has not been to the south Louth area, where there is an abundance of these little winged wonders.
Indeed, in the town of Drogheda there appears to be more than the usual complement of these nimble aerobats, so perhaps the swifts, like many Dublin residents who have moved to this area, realise that this Boyneside town, and former capital of Ireland, is the place to be at the moment.
It is likely that some local calamity in Africa befell the swifts who usually make the Kildare skies their home during the summer months - perhaps a drought or a storm in the locale where they spend the winter. I have watched these heralds of what passes for summer in this country return year after year to nest in the eaves above my window, but unfortunately there appears to be a trend, in this locality at least, to "swift-proof" houses by installing screens to prevent the little birds entering the roof space.
This is a pity as the swift is not just a wonder of God's creation but also a highly efficient insect catcher. It appears we are trying to do to these avian tourists what the authorities in Dublin are determined to do to the human variety. - Yours, etc.,
Pat Flanagan,
Yellowbatter,
Drogheda,
Co Louth.