Sir, – If you print this letter, I will undoubtedly be told to “lighten up”, as I was when I objected to the substitution of “Crimbo” for Christmas. I am only marginally less irritated by the use of “Paddy’s Day” for St Patrick’s Day. – Yours, etc,
MARGARET BUTLER,
St Helen’s Road,
Booterstown,
Co Dublin.
A chara, – Regarding the (I hope tongue-in-cheek) claims emanating from the US embassy in Dublin that Americans "invented" St Patrick's Day (Home News, March 13th), I think our cousins in the next parish west will find that while they may lay claim to some of the more extravagant trappings associated with modern secular celebrations of the day, the day itself predates the founding of their nation by many centuries. – Is mise,
Rev PATRICK G BURKE,
Castlecomer,
Co Kilkenny.