Madam, - Diarmaid Ferriter makes valid points concerning Irish history and the archiving of that history (Weekend Review, October 2nd).
But although the printed word may have moved on from the revisionist quill, it was telling - indeed sad - to see that the two main Irish-authored books reviewed by your newspaper were published abroad. Ferriter's and Frank Dunlop's books deserve to be read, but there they were with their prices listed in sterling as their primary currency.
Younger historians may read something of a "cultural" or "post-colonial" context into this, though some will interpret these musings as the misinterpretations of someone who is worrying much about nothing. Perhaps, but since the distant days of the 1970s, many Irish historians have felt the need to publish abroad at the expense of an indigenous industry.
Irish publishing wasn't as sophisticated then as it is now; and in 2004 I don't see why so many writers take the literary gravy train abroad at the expense of Irish publishing houses. - Yours, etc.,
RONAN GALLAGHER, Dublin 8.