Dear Editor

In Willa Murphy's article on Oxford (E&L, Dec 12th, 1995) it is stated that neglected Irish writers like Le Fanu, Bram Stoker, Brian Friel and Seamus Heaney are now subjects for theses at Oxford University, replacing WB Yeats and James Joyce. Apparently when Dermot Bolger's play One Last White House, about contemporary urban life in Ireland was performed there, it provoked debate on account of its disturbing theme.

Does this mean that the Irish students there are more - interested in writers from another era in Ireland rather than contemporary ones? If this is the case, the question must be asked whether they are bored with contemporary themes and find much more quality in works by Bram Stoker or Brian Friel, even Seamus Heaney. Judging by this report our cultural literary past seems more interesting to students - or is it a form of escapism? Yours,

Marian Place,

Cahirciveen,

Co Kerry.