Madam, – For Old Ireland, two black Fridays in December: first, it was Tipp man Liam Clancy, and now we have lost Limerick's Ciarán MacMathúna. How wonderful for RTÉ Radio 1 to play its tribute this bright Sunday morning. How wonderful to hear the soothing voice again, following Geraldine and Eily O'Grady's haunting slow air, ushering us gently into the day. (It banished, for a few minutes, our Harvey-Norman New Ireland.) Long may traditional Ireland and its music icons remain in our hearts, like The Lark in the Clear Air. – Yours, etc,