Sir, - Further to the current debate on the merits of learning Irish, I came across an interesting quotation from Nancy Mitford, dated 1952:
"The Irish, whose qualities of mind and heart were so cruelly misused for centuries, are now busy applying all their energy to becoming a nation. They have made up a language and are busy trying to learn it, without much success, judging by the fact they still have to print an English crib under all notices and forms which are written out in Irish". - Yours, etc.,
M. O'Neill, Ballyedmond, Midleton, Co Cork.