Subscriber OnlyLetters

Having the last word

When delivering your deathbed one-liner, make sure those final words are grammatically correct

Letters to the Editor. Illustration: Paul Scott
The Irish Times – Letters to the Editor
Tue Sept 15 2026 - 06:00 • 1 MIN READ

Sir, – In his excellent column Joe Humphreys considers final words (“I’d be very happy with going out on an ‘oh, wow!’”, “What would your last words be? Here are some of the best deathbed one-liners”, Opinion, September 14th).

He could also have included this one attributed (perhaps apocryphally) to 17th-century French Jesuit and grammarian Fr Dominique Bouhours and roughly translated as: “I am going to, or I am about to, die: either is correct.” – Yours, etc,

LAWRENCE P KENNY

Clifden,

READ MORE

Fallon & Byrne acquired by owners of chicken brand Rosie & Jim

Garth Brooks is back. And he has snubbed Dublin. It’s a win for the Real People of Ireland

Modern four-bed house in Blackrock with superb views over Dublin Bay

After Fine Gael’s 15 years in Government, are the miles on the clock showing?

Co Galway.