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On the merits of longer letters

Reader Terry Walsh responds to recent correspondence about the length of letters published in The Irish Times

Letters to the Editor. Illustration: Paul Scott
The Irish Times - Letters to the Editor.
Wed Sept 23 2026 - 06:00 • 1 MIN READ

Sir, – I imagine that The Irish Times publishes short letters because they are pithy; longer letters usually contain a reasoned argument or two and are rarely uninteresting.

Unlike your recent correspondents Tony Corcoran and Margaret Butler, I read every letter from start to finish; if not, I would not know what I’m missing. – Yours, etc,

TERRY WALSH.

Córdoba,

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