Sir, - As a student of University College Cork who was present at the protest outside the science building in UCC on November 15th, I was dismayed and disappointed by Kevin Myers's Irishman's Diary of November 18th. While I personally failed to see the reason for inviting Mr Irving to speak to the Philosophy Society, I was nonetheless intrigued and wanted to hear what he had to say, if only to be convinced that there was no merit in it.
Mr Myers's portrayal of the violent protesters as teens, adolescents and students was far from reality of. By my own estimate, more than 90 per cent of the protesters were not UCC students. Contrary to how the incident was reported in the media, the riot which ensued was caused solely by people with no connection to UCC.
I stood horrified in the foyer of the science building as protesters, many of whom had come from as far away as Dublin and Northern Ireland, turned what would have been a meaningful silent, peaceful protest into an ugly spectacle, showing just how fascist anti-fascists can be.
With regard to the ideas contained within Mr Myer's article, I firmly agree with his arguments. I am just very disappointed that his words read incorrectly, "the adolescents went home happy" instead of: "the adults went home happy". - Is mise,
Donal Mac Gabhann O Mairtin, University College, Cork.