A history of Ireland in 100 goodbyes

Bye for now

Sir, – Further to Frank McNally’s “A history of Ireland in 100 goodbyes” (An Irishman’s Diary, September 30th), my late father-in-law from Roscommon used to say when it was time to go, “Rattle those chairs.” – Yours, etc,

A JONES,

Mullagh,

Co Cavan.

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Sir, – What about that slogan from the 1995 divorce referendum? “Hello Divorce, Bye Bye Daddy.” – Yours, etc,

MICHAEL MOLONEY,

Dublin 24.

Sir, – My teacher in school addressed me as follows: “You are so slow you’ll meet yourself coming back.” – Yours, etc,

ALAN MOONEY,

Foxrock,

Dublin 18.

Sir, –My husband’s cousin was woman’s editor of The Irish Times and she used to hold regular little soirées at her family home on Sunday evenings. Her mother used to call “time” by coming into the room with the Hoover! – Yours, etc,

YVONNE PIM,

Greystones,

Co Wicklow.

Sir, – I thought Frank McNally might have included “Here’s me bus.” – Yours, etc,

ROBERT NICHOLSON,

Killiney,

Co Dublin.

Sir, – “Isn’t it time all decent people were in their beds.” – Yours, etc,

MARY DALY,

Dublin 14.

Sir, – “Thanks for coming, and thanks for going.” – Yours, etc,

RICHARD WALSH,

Stillorgan,

Co Dublin.

Sir, – Granny Campbell’s final words to us on leaving her house never varied: “Mind the step.” – Yours, etc,

PAMELA ROGERS,

Kells,

Co Meath.

Sir, – “Goodbye Ireland, I’m going to Cork.” It had two connotations, one being humorous. However, its origins were in emigration, the goodbye of an emigrant travelling to Cobh to board a liner to North America. – Yours, etc,

THOMAS CARROLL,

Limerick.

Sir, – Many moons ago, after luxuriating in Patrick McGoohan’s groundbreaking TV series The Prisoner, I took to using his catchphrase whenever my time was exhausted and I still use it to this day! “Be seeing you.” – Yours, etc,

KEITH NOLAN,

Carrick-on-Shannon,

Co Leitrim.

Sir, – My late and much-loved sister with special needs would quietly gather and distribute laughingly coats and jackets of visiting guests. It never failed! – Yours, etc,

SEOIRSE O’TOOLE,

Donegal.