Sir, - Jim Dunne (Quidnunc, June 23rd) has made my quotation from Jorge Luis Borges ("It is always the least appropriate men and women who are asked to represent their country abroad") at the launch of Eamon Delaney's An Accidental Diplomat sound as if it was used as a lead-in to a critique of our Department of Foreign Affairs. In fact I cited it (with some gentle irony, I hope) in the context of Eamon's portrayal of himself as a man faced with an all-but-impossible task.
Those who were present will confirm that I took the opportunity to celebrate the fine work done by the Department not only in international relations but also in the promotion of Irish culture overseas. - Yours, etc.,
Declan Kiberd, Department of English, UCD, Dublin 4.