Given that its spelling seems to be a source of confusion, I have long since ceased to be irritated by people getting my name wrong. But gender is an entirely different matter, which caused me to take a rather special interest in a note from the Munster area.

It concerned a recent circular sent to the Mallow office of the Munster Branch of the GUI, where Karen Walsh has been doing a splendid job as the province's administrator for some years now. The missive was addressed: "Mr Kieron Walsh . . ."

And the sender? The Equality Authority, no less.